NORINCO Corporation has developed a new loitering munition

The American Switchblade 600 UAV in flight position. The new Chinese UAV may have a similar appearance

The Chinese defense industry is actively developing loitering munitions and regularly introduces new products of this kind. Recently it became known about the creation of a new drone-kamikaze with enhanced flight characteristics. The declared flight range and duration figures attracted the attention of the press and led to the emergence of curious assessments.

New project

The general public learned about the new Chinese loitering munition (LM) on September 23 from the South China Morning Post. It drew attention to the publication in one of the latest issues of the journal of the Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics. The material was prepared by specialists from the NORINCO corporation and told about a new development in the field of UAVs.

The new NORINCO project is reported to involve the creation of a UAV with reconnaissance capabilities and a built-in warhead. It should find and destroy various virgin lands on land and water. In terms of the overall concept, it is not fundamentally different from other modern BBs.

Unfortunately, SCMP did not reveal the appearance of the new Chinese drone and some of its characteristics. However, it was compared to the American products of the Switchblade series, noting their similar architecture, close parameters and other features.

Thanks to a number of technical solutions, the new Chinese UAV demonstrates improved flight and technical characteristics. Its cruising speed is declared at 144 km/h, and the flight duration is 105 minutes. The UAV can perform both a direct flight to the designated target and be on duty in a designated area.

The SCMP publication and numerous foreign media outlets focus on the declared flight characteristics of the new Chinese BB. Through simple calculations, they determined that the flight range of this drone can reach at least 200 km, which makes it one of the longest-range systems of its class in the world.

Launch of the Switchblade 300 BB

The foreign press is paying particular attention to the UAV's range and considering it in the context of hypothetical combat use. Predictably, this is done in the context of relations between mainland China and Taiwan.

The continent and the island are separated by the Taiwan Strait, which is about 180 km wide. In its current form, the new UAV is capable of taking off in China, overcoming the water barrier, and striking an object in Taiwan. At the same time, it has a significant range reserve for launching from the depths of the territory and/or for hitting more distant targets.

SCMP and other publications also noted a reduction in the cost of the new UAV. This means that NORINCO, having received an order, will be able to mass-produce the new BBs and supply them to the army. The troops will gain a significant advantage over a potential enemy and will be able to increase the fire impact on it.

Developments of one class

The technical appearance, all design features and characteristics of the new UAV / BB from NORINCO are not yet known. But it is compared with an existing known sample, which may give some clues. In addition, this allows us to compare the potential of different products and draw conclusions.

The Chinese UAV is compared to the American Switchblade. Perhaps this model was chosen because of its wide popularity. The American BB was actively advertised and became one of the most recognizable in its class. However, it cannot be ruled out that it was cited as an example due to its technical similarity to the new Chinese development.

The version about technical similarities has a right to exist. Chinese aircraft manufacturers have already developed and demonstrated promising BB/UAVs similar to Switchblade products. It is likely that the new project uses similar solutions.

Let us recall that AeroVironment produces two UAVs with different characteristics under the Switchblade brand. The Chinese UAV, with the declared characteristics, should be compared with the larger product "Switchblade-600".

Chinese BB CH-901

This is an aircraft-type UAV with a thin, elongated fuselage and a pair of straight wings. The overall length and span of the planes are approximately 1,3 m. The launch weight is over 15 kg. The BB is transported with folded wings and launched from a tubular launcher-container. Control is carried out from the operator's console or with the help of an autopilot. A cumulative warhead is used to hit the target.

The Switchblade 600 is equipped with an electric motor that provides a cruising speed of 115 km/h. When diving towards a target, the UAV accelerates to 180 km/h. The flight range is 40 km, and the maximum flight duration is 40 minutes.

In this context, it is also worth mentioning the loitering munition type CH-901, presented by the Chinese corporation CAIC in the middle of the last decade. Like the Switchblade, it had two wings that folded out in flight and was launched from a container. However, the CH-901 weighed only 9 kg and flew only 15 km. Later, other UAVs of this design were demonstrated, but with higher performance.

Estimated appearance

It can be assumed that NORINCO Corporation used similar technical solutions in its new project. Its unmanned BB / UAV can also be equipped with a pair of folding wings, which significantly facilitates its transportation and launch. According to SCMP, this device has an electric propulsion system with a propeller.

The electric motor provides the drone with speed characteristics comparable to other modern BBs. In addition, it provides an increased flight range, and in this respect the new UAV surpasses its analogues.

The composition of the control systems remains unknown. Probably, a standard set of devices is used, including a remote control system, navigation equipment, video camera and radio station. At the same time, onboard communication equipment must have improved characteristics to ensure effective data exchange at all flight ranges.

There is also no information about the warhead. Apparently, the UAV carries a high-explosive fragmentation warhead weighing several kilograms. At the same time, there is the possibility of using replaceable warheads for different purposes, expanding the range of tasks to be solved.

Remote control for a drone

Practical potential

All the main advantages of loitering munitions are well known. These devices are capable of taking off from any suitable site and approaching the target area along an optimal route. They can then wait for the target to appear and then strike. In terms of application, they have some advantages over missile complexes of the traditional kind.

It is obvious that the new UAV from NORINCO has all these advantages. In addition, it has an increased flight range, surpassing existing analogues in this parameter. How future users will be able to use such advantages is already clear.

The prospective BB expands the boundaries of the zone in which troops will be able to conduct reconnaissance and hit targets. This will have a positive effect on the overall strike capabilities of the army. In addition, such a BB creates additional requirements for the system Defense potential enemy, forcing anti-aircraft gunners to defend a larger area from complex air targets.

The new UAV, like other Chinese developments, is being discussed in the context of the Taiwan issue. It is claimed that this is the first Chinese model of this class, capable of crossing the Taiwan Strait and attacking targets on the island. It is also possible to launch the BB from surface platforms, as a result of which the entire territory of Taiwan will be under attack.

It is expected that inexpensive and long-range BBs will give the PLA fundamentally new strike capabilities to fight the Taiwanese army or other opponents. It is important to note that such weapons will be used in combination with systems of other classes and types. This will allow organizing and carrying out strikes of various types, including at great depth and using various ammunition.

New perspectives

Thus, the Chinese defense industry continues to develop modern weapons and regularly demonstrates new results of this process. Recently, a promising loitering munition with increased range and flight duration was announced, and now we can expect it to be shown at exhibitions.

Within a few years, this UAV/BB should enter service with the Chinese army. It will significantly enhance its strike potential and provide new capabilities. It is not yet known how exactly these capabilities will be used, but abroad, the declared characteristics of the product have already been assessed and reasonable concerns are being expressed.