A swarm of loitering ammunition: a new complex of Chinese development

UAV complex on the eve of the opening of the exhibition

China continues to develop unmanned aerial vehicles and loitering ammunition, as well as self-propelled systems based on them. Another example of this kind is now on display at Airshow China 2022 in Zhuhai. This complex uses Drones with reconnaissance and strike functions, capable of working independently or as part of a "swarm".

Exhibit at the exhibition

In early November, a few days before the opening of the exhibition, Chinese television showed the most interesting novelties and exhibits. One of them was a self-propelled vehicle with drones / loitering ammunition, shown to the public for the first time.

The official name of this complex is still unknown. On the information plate, it is designated as "Vehicke-mounted swarm loitering munition system". The complex was developed by the China Ordnance Equipment Group (COEG), known for its developments in the field of unmanned aviation.

The complex is shown in expanded form. The launcher on the combat vehicle is raised to a combat position that ensures the launch of the UAV. The launch process is also shown: one of the ammunition is half out of the transport and launch container. Next to the machine placed the same drone in flight configuration.

It is reported that the complex is made on a modular basis and can be mounted on different platforms. At the same time, it is distinguished by a certain simplicity and cheapness with sufficiently high tactical, technical and combat characteristics.

The complex is intended for reconnaissance, detection of ground or surface targets and their subsequent destruction. One of the main innovations of the project is the possibility of group use of UAVs in the "swarm" mode. Due to this, it is planned to increase the efficiency of solving all the main tasks.

Launcher and "take-off" ammunition

Airshow China 2022 opened on November 8, and now visitors can see the new complex from COEG and its drone in person. It is quite possible that such a premiere will be successful, and the development company will receive orders for the production and supply of new equipment.

In the current configuration

So far, the nameless complex is really distinguished by a certain simplicity. It includes a unified launcher, UAV and a set of control devices. All these tools can be mounted on different platforms with sufficient dimensions and load capacity.

The exhibition sample is built on the basis of the latest generation Dongfeng Warrior armored car. This is a three-axle machine with an armored hull bonnet layout. The double-row cabin has been retained, behind which is placed a new launcher with additional protection on the sides and top.

The launcher of the complex is made in the form of an oscillating device with drives, having fasteners for UAV transport and launch containers. The presented sample carries 18 TPK. In the stowed position, the installation is located horizontally, does not protrude beyond the body and is located under the roof. Before launch, it is proposed to raise it to a certain angle, which ensures the free exit of the drones forward.

On top of the launcher is a telescopic mast with a characteristic rectangular antenna. Probably, with its help, radio exchange is carried out with aircraft, single or in groups. Inside the cabin there are control devices and operator workplaces.

loitering ammunition

The complex includes a new loitering ammunition; This item has not been shown before. This is a UAV with an electric power plant and a compact optoelectronic station. Due to the folding design, the product is placed in a TPK with a diameter of about 250-300 mm and a length of approx. 1,5 m. The mass of the drone and the container is unknown.

The ammunition is built in a plastic case with a nose and a central part of a rectangular section, a cylindrical tail boom. In the nose, on a characteristic flat ledge, an ECO is suspended. A straight high wing is used. In the transport position, the wing is deployed along the hull, and after leaving the TPK, it automatically rotates 90 °. An L-shaped tail unit is also provided in the form of two folding planes.

With the help of a starting device of an unknown type, the UAV leaves the container, after which it turns on the main electric motor. Declared flight speed up to 180 km / h. Flight duration - 40 min. The radius of action is 40 km from the combat vehicle.

To destroy targets, the UAV is equipped with a high-explosive fragmentation warhead. Its parameters have not yet been disclosed. Probably, the mass of warheads is several kilograms, which makes it possible to deal with manpower, unprotected vehicles or some types of armored vehicles.

The developer of the complex mentions the ability of the UAV to work as part of the so-called. swarm. At the same time, specific features and functions of this kind are not reported. It can be assumed that drones are able to exchange data not only with the operator, but also with each other. Depending on the features and perfection of control systems, such ammunition will be able to autonomously patrol given areas, as well as distribute designated ground targets among themselves. In addition, such a "swarm" will be able to flexibly respond to losses from enemy air defense and redistribute targets without the participation of an operator.

Obvious advantages

As far as is known, China has long been engaged in the subject of loitering light-class ammunition, and also creates self-propelled systems with such "weapons". The next results of such works are demonstrated at the current exhibition. At the same time, new exhibits show noticeable progress and the emergence of new technologies.

The nameless complex from COEG has several obvious advantages. First of all, this is a modular architecture and the possibility of placement on different platforms, as well as the limited cost of both the complex as a whole and its unmanned component. However, simplicity is achieved, among other things, by reducing the ammunition load. Previously, the Chinese industry showed a similar complex with 48 UAVs, and the new one carries only 18.

UAV in flight configuration

The shown drone as a whole has rather high characteristics. Existing examples of the same size have similar flight duration and range. In addition, the use of launch containers is also becoming typical.

Of particular interest are reports of the possibility of UAVs operating as part of a "swarm". This allows you to improve some features and increase the efficiency of technology in solving all the main tasks. In addition, within the framework of the new project, a technological reserve is actually being created for the further development of unmanned systems.

The demonstration of a new unmanned complex at a public event, as well as the mention of low cost and modular advantages, may hint at the intention of the COEG group to bring this development to the international market. It is possible that the group will be able to find foreign customers. This will be facilitated both by the own qualities of the new development, and by the increased interest in the subject of drones and loitering ammunition, fueled by recent conflicts.

In addition, it can be expected that the current unnamed complex will not be the last of its kind. Based on it, COEG will be able to create new systems with certain features. These can be modifications with certain features or full-fledged new projects using the existing technological base. It cannot be ruled out that larger and heavier UAVs / ammunition will appear in promising projects.

Promising direction

Thus, China appreciated the concept of loitering ammunition and joined in the process of its development and the creation of new samples of this kind. In addition, on the basis of such UAVs, full-fledged self-propelled systems are being created that are capable of solving all the intended tasks. It is already known about the existence of several such projects with different features.

Judging by the exposition at the current Airshow China 2022, the Chinese industry is not only developing a promising direction, but also plans to enter the international market with its samples. Potential buyers are already being offered two complexes with loitering ammunition, and it cannot be ruled out that new similar developments will appear at the next exhibition.

Comments

[Roust]

Well, Taiwan, well, wait a minute!!! Ruinskim Natsiks, get ready.

[neworange88]

Quote: Roust

Well, Taiwan, well, wait a minute!!! Ruinskim Natsiks, get ready.

Something the "Taiwanese" in embroidered shirts downvoted you. That's impossible. I give you a plus.

[Prokop_Pork]

There are more suitable places for cretin slogans.

[Monster_Fat]

Five years ago, smart people warned that UAVs would revolutionize military affairs, nullify all the usual means of warfare, which is happening. An interesting situation has developed - all sorts of hypersonic prodigies there turned out to be unclaimed, but the "motorcycle" rattling at a height made a splash. And when swarms of various types of UAVs appear, then ... In general, robots entered the battlefield, the so-called "robotic blitz", which the military dreamed of back in the 20-30-40s of the twentieth century already on the battlefield.

[MBRSS]

UAVs will revolutionize military affairs, will bring to naught all the usual means of warfare, which is happening.

And it's very bad for us. Some South Korea or Japan can terrorize a much larger country with a good classical army, but lagging behind in terms of technology. With the modern development of microelectronics and batteries, the cost of a drone will fall to the cost of a conventional artillery shell, or even lower.

[spectr]

With the modern development of microelectronics and batteries, the cost of a drone will fall to the cost of a conventional artillery shell, or even lower.

As soon as this happens, towed artillery will begin to become a thing of the past. And the self-propelled gun units will have to introduce means of combating loitering ammunition (electronic warfare or invent something new).

[sgrabik]

And what prevents us from also actively developing and implementing such weapons systems.

[Anadyrean]

Big and smart caps sitting not in the trenches, but in the offices. Every minimum Suvorov.

[Dilettante_broad_profile]

I feel if someone said 10 years ago that air defense can overcome huge triangles at a speed of 100 km / h, while flying deep into enemy territory at 1000 km, they would only twist a finger at his temple

[cold wind]

Only people who do not understand radar and the history of weapons, i.e. our generals. Attack UAVs have been used in wars since 1944. Vietnam made thousands of sorties and there they already "broke through" the defense. In 1982, during the day of Operation Artsav, the Israelis destroyed 19 Syrian anti-aircraft missile battalions using UAVs. Harpy appeared in the late 80s, the Iranians copied it.

[hagen]

Quote: Monster_Fat

An interesting situation has developed - all sorts of hypersonic prodigies there turned out to be unclaimed

Not a very good idea. The "hypersonic prodigy" and other unused types of strategic weapons, eating up a large part of the defense budget, allow us, including you, to write any heresy here. The absence of these "waffles" would long ago serve as a basis for turning our country into something like Libya or Yugoslavia. Some, however, are unaware of this. Well, that means it's not given...

[nickname7]

The absence of these "waffles" would long ago serve as a basis for turning our country into something like Libya or Yugoslavia

This is a lie, not zircons and daggers deter Western predators, but Soviet ICBMs. Your "Hypersonic Prodigy" this is a marketing product, it does not restrain anyone, but creates ratings for the thieves' elite.

[hagen]

Quote: nickname7

ratings of the thieves' elite

Are you jealous?

[Civil]

Five years ago, smart people warned that UAVs

Science and Life in the last issues of 89-91 clearly described all this, again on the forums about the swarm of UAVs in translation appeared around 2005. They realized it in 2022 ...
I can tell you what in the future (nearest):
1. Miniaturization. A swarm of small UAVs with a cigar, connected to a single network, will independently storm infantry positions. They will combine the possibility of UAV-kamikaze and (or) carry fired submunitions.
At the moment, the infantry does not have any protection against such an attack.
2. Air defense multi-kilometer clouds / grids from UAVs will completely nullify the possibility of a breakthrough of aviation and (or) their weapons of destruction.
3. Minefields. A swarm of multi-purpose mobile UAVs with charges for mining dangerous areas. With means of detecting breakthrough attempts. That is, the minefield will evade defeat, for example, the Serpent Gorynych and re-occupy the held area.
4. EW. Defeat by a UAV swarm of all sources of electromagnetic radiation on the battlefield / direction / section of the front.

This is within 1-2 years.

[VicktorVR]

Not five, but rather 20.
Right before our eyes there was a lag in this area.
Although in the early 2000s, for example, SUSU (there was CPI) still had all the competencies to start developing UAVs - the department of aircraft could well have a glider, the departments of electric drive from the energy department and the whole instrument-making department would have completely mastered electronics, there was someone to do even ICE. And even a warhead in the case of loitering ammunition.

[Myths]

A very interesting complex, clearly designed for actions during the active work of air defense.

[cold wind]

How it works for the Chinese:

Like the USA, only the video is 5+ years old.


The ILC ordered the OPF-M complex, the Israeli Hero-120 UAV on different platforms.

[Boniface]

Wangyu: someone will invent the "Electromagnetic GUN" very soon. On the "whack" button and all the drones fell like peas! Offensive thwarted! - It's elementary to do - Pulse toroid forming an electromagnetic wave (impulse) of enormous power!
zilch and everything is gone))
They made combat lasers, but a powerful laser has an incredibly powerful power plant for its "pumping"! Here the principle is the same, only the laser is a "point" weapon, and here is a "volumetric" discharge

[tlauicol]

Shielding has already been invented. And how long

[Boniface]

I beg of you! Shielding at times will increase the RCS of the drone - which will make it a target for air defense!
Because the screen is nothing more than a "conductive circuit"))) which are just a "cherry" for radar!

[tlauicol]

Then you will shoot down the Mavics with the help of the S-300.
And what prevents rubber from being applied over the shielding?

[cold wind]

For military UAVs, EMP is useless; protection methods were developed back in the 60s.
Although lockheed has already made such an interceptor. Relevant in the city. Called Mobile Radio Frequency-Integrated Unmanned Aircraft System Suppressor (MoRFIUS).

[MBRSS]

Quote from cold wind

For military UAVs, EMP is useless

And they say that EMP (high-power broadband radiation) is "useful" even for tanks grounded to the ground. Our RC apartments are also kind of shielded, but the phones work in them.

[bulgaria_]

But what if the attack front is 100 m or 1000 m? how much will go in depth? What if there is a friend? Fiction. Typical

[Andy_nsk]

It's elementary to do - Pulse toroid forming an electromagnetic wave (impulse) of enormous power!

Have you even heard of Maxwell's equations? - the fact that you will not be able to calculate the EMF even for the simplest case with a toroidal coil - I have no doubt, hence such "projections". Now, if you put a drone into such a coil, then the chances of burning it increase significantly - but there are less perverted and more practical ways: for example, to suppress the communication channel and the gps signal. Energy will be required a million times less.

[MBRSS]

Boniface , so each infantry squad will also have to be given a generator the size of "Peresvet". Those. unreal.

[Bingo]

I can’t catch up with Shot in any way, in what situation this swarm is used ... We pinned ourselves to the position. they fired one ammunition - it was shot down, another 15 were fired? But it turned out that there is 1 Bobby with a Stinger sitting there, who was pointed at the heat of the rocket? The UAV is clearly not screw ...
Or a type of MLRS with individual guidance? Well, the question is, what kind of warhead does it carry, that is, what can hit, and how much does it cost in rubles ... And the better the UAV bundle is normal + normal MLRS - the bundle has a greater range. Sheepskin may not be worth the candle

[Prokop_Pork]

You need to read the article. And look at the photo, especially the first one.

[MBRSS]

The UAV is clearly not screw ...

clearly screwed...

[Buyan]

Dangerous UAV things, and if there is also a swarm, put out the lights. Well done Chinese

[Eduard Egorov]

For a swarm of UAVs, you need a swarm of operators to direct these UAVs! You can get this from the Chinese, but in other countries where the human resource is limited, it will already be difficult.

[cold wind]

For a swarm of UAVs, 1-2 operators are needed. A swarm is impossible without a quasi-AI that will manage, determine and distribute targets, the task of the operator is to indicate the combat mission and permission to "kill". Technically, there are no problems.

[abc_alex]

Quote from cold wind

For a swarm of UAVs, 1-2 operators are needed. A swarm is impossible without a quasi-AI that will manage, determine and distribute targets, the task of the operator is to indicate the combat mission and permission to "kill". Technically, there are no problems.

Against. It is the technical problems of the SEA. The first and foremost is target recognition. Two soldiers nearby, one conditionally ours, the other enemy. How will you distinguish them? Two tanks side by side. Two cars. And there is no need for fairy tales about magical "signatures". As soon as there is a danger of attack by swarms of unguided drones, simulators and signature distortion systems will appear. Yes, and now no one has reliable algorithms for recognizing even just tanks or something else. All "smart" ammunition in a real battle suddenly and sharply "dumb". Working flawlessly only in Hollywood films.
A person in modern weapons is primarily a recognition system. There is no problem to aim at a contrasting spot. To recognize an enemy tank in a hundred contrasting spots and not confuse it with your own - that's the task.
And the second task is to evaluate the effect of the attack. Well, how did you miss? Or "didn't break through". Or "He got away"? We believe that there is no one there. And from there it suddenly flew at us.

In this regard, anti-aircraft gunners are good. "Infinitely cold" sky and each object is equipped with a "friend or foe" transponder. That's where the command "hit strangers" can be executed perfectly.
And on the ground, it is precisely that EVERY swarm drone will need its own operator. Alternatively, one operator leads one swarm of 10-20 small UAVs that attack one target in a pack. A sort of flying "dronomet" firing bursts. The operator recognized the target, determined the number of drones in the "queue", gave the command "hit". The dust settled, from the remnants of the swarm he assessed the result and either sent another burst, or flew further.

And all these tales about AI are popmech. To create an AI capable of recognition, you first need to understand how we ourselves recognize objects. And yet no one can understand this. :)
And the military will not give the robot the right to make a decision to shoot.

[Monster_Fat]

The "automatic" swarm was implemented many years ago, in my opinion, in the "Granit" complex - we missiles "communicated" with each other during a salvo - one missile rose above the swarm and gave target designation to others, if it was shot down, another rose ...

[cold wind]

This is a duck that has not been confirmed by anything, thrown in some kind of TV show. There was no such functionality on granites.

[abc_alex]

Quote from cold wind

This is a duck that has not been confirmed by anything, thrown in some kind of TV show. There was no such functionality on granites.

And how do you know this? Granite target distribution system was confirmed by the developer. And your "was not" is confirmed by what?

[MBRSS]

The "automatic" swarm was implemented many years ago, in my opinion, in the "Granit" complex

I remembered Stanislav Lem, the novel "Invincible". There were truly noble swarms of drones. Fantasy turns into a terrible reality.

[Dedok]

seeing Iranian UAVs, presented here, I’m no longer surprised
nevertheless - their performance characteristics will be even more interesting, by the way, but what about us?
otherwise I saw the FACE of the representative of the financial block of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation S. Mikischenko and thought - we will never have anything - as long as such "persons" are "sitting" in the RF Ministry of Defense.
check it out, you'll like it too

[Prokop_Pork]

Probably assigning them to the battalion level, to a fire support company.

[ASM]

Well, why not use proven options. There, on the outskirts, geraniums showed how to open air defense for a penny, and then launch more weighty arguments at the target. And some of the geraniums will bloom, and powerful fertilizers will arrive in time.

[Mikhail Ivanov_6]

A suitable complex, against the backdrop of recent events, an addition to the Geraniums. A very necessary ammunition, we are waiting for purchases by the RF Ministry of Defense.

[Buyan]

Quote: Edward Egorov

For a swarm of UAVs, you need a swarm of operators to direct these UAVs! You can get this from the Chinese, but in other countries where the human resource is limited, it will already be difficult.

Read about swarm competitions in the USA, for example, a swarm is not controlled by a swarm of operators, but by a smaller number of staff

[Sasha from Uralmash]

China has not been at war for a long time and is developing the latest weapons! Vaplosik to our aging leaders from the Ministry of Defense! And then we don’t need to order anything and quickly!

[rosomaha]

This is how the launcher for the Lancets should be .. based on the Tiger. PU on the trailer, control point in the cabin, with the ability to control the UAV in motion. He arrived, fired a volley from a dozen UAVs in 2 waves and left, and along the way a couple of operators lead the Lancets to the impact zones, then alternately point the first wave at the target (the second loitering in the waiting area), and then the second. On the basis of the Lancet, a reconnaissance UAV is also needed to coordinate the attack, search for targets and see the results, but so that it is launched by the same launcher, and the crew commander monitors them.

[Mint Gingerbread]

Oh, I recently wrote, this would be based on a tornado or a sun. A stupid car would have turned out.

[Prokop_Pork]

There is a "Cheburashka" in the DPR - 64 pipes of 217 mm each on one chassis. It is difficult for him to approach the front line, and switchblades could be launched from afar.

[Mint Gingerbread]

Cheburashka as a platform is also a good option.

[Fangaro]

To use a group of objects with synchronization of actions, signaling is required from the coordination center and to the coordination center. The weak point will be just the transmission of control signals. Alternatively, it is possible not to transmit control signals in real time, but to program in advance, and then partially correct.
If fully programmed, you get a battle on the map, without taking into account the operational change on this used map.
Well, if non-standard information transmission channels are used for control, or not interrupted ...
This is not a joke, but if you turn off the entire radio range, from 800 MHz and above, then the light range will remain operational. I exaggerate, yes.

[FoBoss_VM]

How could we not miss these new trends in the development of weapons. And then we will find ourselves again in the ass like in Ukraine. When the time comes with China to resolve territorial issues

[Dilettante_broad_profile]

I think the Chinese will not have problems with scaling the installation. It is quite possible for a truck to come up with a container with vertically directed TPKs, which will rise from one side to provide a more convenient launch angle.

[Last centurion]

With good computing power, of course, you can make a swarm of small ammunition that can take out almost all the tanks, and maybe the soldiers personally. The issue is the miniaturization of electronics, or rather the production of microprocessors or something complex assembled on a single silicon chip. The Russian Federation has a problem with this. And so such a plastic figurine with an engine from a children's aircraft model will lay armored personnel carriers, convoys and DRGs in batches. The use of soldiers on the battlefield in 15 years will be stupidity of the level of idiocy. Well, except that it’s harsh to throw away grenades sleeping from drones

[Dkuznecov]

Let's be clear - we have no problem squeezing oil
deep laying due to the injection of water into the oil lens.
And the subsequent squeezing of oil.
Everything else is a problem for us.
Even associated gas, as well as stripped fractions -
you have to deal with them. It's easier to burn.

[Dkuznecov]

When the "teplak" in the series drops in price to 10 dollars in the series,
and the camera will get cheaper, believe me,
all this buzzing brethren with microcharges will start chasing
behind the personnel, like mosquitoes.

Rest, take off and race again.

Maybe even on power lines
think of charging.

[Sergei N 58912062]

It is somewhat reminiscent of the Chinese Barrage Swarm complex with loitering ammunition CH-901.

[Mekey Iptyshev]

On TV, the news showed about this exhibition and showed a bunch of different drones for a variety of tasks. Our military leaders would be at this exhibition.
At the end, I remember. China will not develop a 6th generation aircraft, because according to their program, drones with a range of up to 10 km and a payload of several tons look more promising. Because the pilot needs to be raised for at least 18 years. And China can stick drones in huge quantities. Experienced layouts were also shown.

[savage3000]

too long article about what there is nothing particularly new. well, UAV, well, launch from a container. OK. why so many letters? sucked?