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Belesarius

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30 minutes ago, Belesarius said:

@Khand-e, your thoughts on this article?  Have you heard anything interesting about a new strategic bomber?

 

http://www.realcleardefense.com/articles/2017/07/26/the_pla_air_forces_silver-bullet_bomber_force_111902.html

 

 

 

They've been known to be working on new tactical and strategic bombers for quite a few years now, not a whole lot of details have leaked though aside from the H-X design that was shown a few years ago in mockups was likely a design that was cancelled before it was even revealed.

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On 24.09.2016 at 1:29 PM, LoooSeR said:

About Russian UAVs programms:

 

1. Tactical UAVs.

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   Searcher MkII by IAI aka "Fortpost", is produced in Russia under license at UZGA in Ekaterinburg. Looks like an order for additional 150 UAVs were/is to be placed.

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   Newer Russian version of this Israel-designed UAV will be slightly heavier 500kg vs 436, will have more Russian-made parts and electronics in it. 

 

 

   "Corsaire" is one of the purely Russian projects in the field of tactical unmanned systems. The system, which appears to be to become an analogue of the American UAV the Shadow, is developed within the structure of the group "Vega" - by "Luch" Design Bureau (Rybinsk).

   Rumored to be one of prototypes:

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   Main task - intelligence gathering and surveillance in a radius of 50 km. The alleged appearance of UAVs has become known in September 2015 (photo in spoiler). Take-off weight of the device - about 200 kg. In parallel with the development of UAVs in Rybinsk, "Luch" created a platform for mass production of these systems and stated that the first units to be manufactured at the end of 2016, and the production at full capacity was planned to start in the end of 2017.

 

2. MALE-class of UAVs (medium altitude long endurance)

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   Rumors are saying that Russia is developing 2 MALE-type of UAVs, similar to Predator and Reaper.

   One of these two systems is medium UAV, which is under development by "Kronshtadt" group in the interest of the Ministry of Defence. The contract for development was signed in October 2011. According to reports, the vehicle weight is about 1.2 t, and the maximum payload is 300 kg.

   It is reported that the UAV is able to stay in the air up to 24 hours. In the spring of 2016 the press information appeared about tests of UAV prototype, they were initiated on the basis of the LII Gromov in Zhukovsky airport near Moscow. Airfield testing indicates that the project went through an important milestone. However, it will require much more time to be completed and ready for service.

 

   

   A heavier version of MALE UAV - "Altair", is under desiged under the theme/programm "Altius" from 2011 by Simonov's Kazan Design Bureau (formerly called the "Falcon" OKB). UAV is a twin-engine high-altitude plane with a wingspan of just less than 30 meters and the V-shaped tail. It is expected that the maximum duration of UAV flight will reach 48 hours.

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   In July, according to officials from the Government of the Republic of Tatarstan, a flight tests of this UAV began. According to the Prime Minister of Tatarstan Ildar Khalikov, mass production to begin in 2018

 

 

3. Tactical/Strike UAVs

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   Since 2012, work on the project of a heavy reconnaissance and strike unmanned aerial vehicle ("Hunter" program) is carried out by "Sukhoi". 

   According to the known data, the UAV will have a takeoff weight of about 20 tons. The closest analogue in foreign UAVs is the American X-47 by Northrop Grumman. In 2014, deputy chairman of the board of the Military-Industrial Commission of Russia Oleg Bochkarev said that the first flight of the UAV is expected in 2018. But looking at similar system development it seems that this UAV will be under developemnt for a lot longer until it ready for service.

 

4. High altitude systems

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   One of the projects to create a Russian high-altitude UAV is known to be under development by TsAGI and Myasishchev Design Bureau. Design of the UAV, which should become a technology demonstrator, conducted under the theme "Obzor-1". Details of the project were not disclosed. We can assume that we are not talking about some innovative solutions, and design parallel with the US high-altitude UAV Global Hawk are very likely.

   It was reported that before the end of 2015 Myasishchev Design Bureau should develop the design documentation and in 2016 to begin construction of the first prototype. Even under favorable conditions, it will be a very long-term project. 

 

 

   Another high-altitude UAV - "Owl" is developing the company "Tiber", with the support of Advanced Studies Foundation (DRF). This so-called pseudolite - a machine capable of long patrol over a given area at altitudes above commercial airtraffic. 

   Power for UAV's electric motors are provided by solar panels, as in the case of the Airbus Zephyr UAV, wich bought this UAV from QinetiQ. In July, Owl prototype successfully completed flight testing (prototype of that UAV had a 9-meter wingspan and a takeoff weight of about 12 kg). The machine has accomplished the flight duration of more than two days. Beginning of flight tests of the second "Owl" prototype with a wingspan of 28 meters is scheduled for September 2016

 

@Belesarius

You asked about some information on Hunter, here it is under Strike UAV section.

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20476190_1903903219826979_42465042283746

 

"U.S. SOCOM (Special Operations Command) has decided to adopt a new lightweight air-to-ground missile (the SGM, or small glide munition) for use on its AC-130 gunships. If the first batch of SGMs perform as well in combat has it did in field testing then SGM will largely replace existing Griffin, G-Claw and Viper Strike weapons. These three are all similar but SGM proved more capable and was also able to use the existing CLT (Common Launch Tube) installed on AC-130s to load an...d launch these small weapons from inside the aircraft.

The GBU-69B SGM weighs 27 kg (59 pounds) each with a 16 kg (35 pound) warhead. Using GPS and laser guidance, the SGM can glide from the AC-130 or a UAV for eight kilometers or more. Unlike Griffin SGM can go after any target (in any direction) within range once launched. Griffin has a limited target arc. SGM was more reliable than G-Claw and had a larger and more effective warhead than Viper Strike or Griffin."  War and Weapon FB group.

 

http://www.janes.com/article/71985/dynetics-receives-new-small-glide-munition-contract

 

 

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I imagine the Scorpion is better as a multi-mission asset, but I tend to agree that what is needed is a light manned plane for low intensity work. The best aircraft for that isn't going to be terribly glamorous.

Having said that, the Scorpion is interesting and I hope it is successful.

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