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The Star
a day ago
- The Star
Is this new tailless UAV China's answer to next-generation drone warfare?
A new video circulating online shows what appears to be a Chinese tailless drone flying in formation with a turboprop, offering a rare glimpse at the country's progress in developing collaborative combat aircraft. The footage, first circulated at the weekend on China's social media platform Weibo, reveals the tailless aircraft with a distinctive diamond-shaped delta wing configuration. Accompanying the drone is a Y-8 or Y-9 turboprop-powered transport aircraft, with another similar aircraft trailing separately. An additional still image, apparently a frame from a separate video featuring the same drone, emerged simultaneously on the social media platform X. While bearing a similar tailless shape to China's next-generation fighter prototypes – namely the Chengdu J-36 or Shenyang J-50 – the drone's design differs from and appears smaller than those aircraft. Based on its size relative to the turboprop, the drone appears longer – at about 15 metres (50 feet) – than known 'loyal wingman' drones, which typically measure between 9 and 12 metres. The People's Liberation Army (PLA) has been actively developing multiple loyal wingman drones and teaming crewed-uncrewed abilities. While the stealthy GJ-11 combat drone remains central to these efforts, China has unveiled other lower-tier uncrewed designs intended to closely coordinate with crewed aircraft. Notably, the FH-97A by China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation was showcased at the Zhuhai air show last year and promoted as a loyal wingman capable of 'leading swarms of smaller drones'. The drone was described at the time as having a more autonomous, networked strike role beyond simply supporting platforms such as the J-20. A commenter on X suggested the Y-8/9 aircraft was likely chosen to accompany the tailless drone because it could fly at slower speeds that were suited to observation and because its spacious cabin could accommodate engineers, monitoring equipment and potential radio systems for remotely controlling prototype drones. Certain variants of this aircraft could also deploy target drones for testing purposes. In 2022, China's state broadcaster CCTV showed a related concept, highlighting the use of H-6 missile carriers as airborne launch platforms for tactical drones. China's drive towards advanced autonomous aviation has accelerated with big leaps in artificial intelligence and machine learning. In early June, a PLA Daily article emphasised the importance of 'massed drone deployments' within China's military modernisation. It called for 'innovative approaches' to unmanned systems, describing them as potentially 'decisive and dominant' in future conflicts. The same report urged military planners to move beyond viewing drones as auxiliary forces, advocating for new operational doctrines centred on the mass and coordinated deployment of unmanned systems. It argued 'the next phase of global military competition will hinge on rapidly concentrating essential systems and personnel'. While the exact date and location of the newly emerged drone video remain unclear, its design closely aligns with images from a June 11 satellite photo, showing around 500 military vehicles – including self-propelled artillery and ballistic missile launchers – lined up at a PLA facility on the outskirts of the capital. Of special interest in that satellite image are drones and unmanned surface vessels concealed under cover on trailers. Similar displays have previously unveiled new drone designs during military parades. The facility features a mock avenue layout, closely resembling Beijing's Changan Avenue, indicating large-scale military rehearsals ahead of a planned parade to commemorate the end of World War II in September. - SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST


Newsweek
02-07-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
US Ally Detects Chinese Military Near Coast: Photos
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The Chinese military has deployed a spy ship, a patrol aircraft and drones in waters around Japan's southwestern islands in recent days, according to the United States ally. Newsweek has contacted the Chinese Defense Ministry for comment via email. Why It Matters Japan forms part of the so-called First Island Chain—a Western Pacific defensive line—alongside Taiwan and the Philippines, under a U.S. containment strategy that aims to limit China's military activities within its surrounding airspace and waters in the event of war. Meanwhile, China has been expanding its military reach and presence both within and beyond the First Island Chain, including through its recently concluded simultaneous deployments of two aircraft carriers in the Philippine Sea—located on the eastern side of the First Island Chain. What To Know A Chinese intelligence-gathering vessel was spotted passing through the Miyako Strait—which lies between the islands of Okinawa and Miyako in Japan's southwestern waters—en route from the East China Sea to the Philippine Sea on Saturday, according to Japan's Defense Ministry. The Type 815A spy ship has been identified as CNS Yuhengxing by its hull number 798. It remains unclear whether it was deployed to monitor the U.S. aircraft carrier USS George Washington, which was seen underway in nearby waters of the Philippine Sea on Monday. While the U.S. aircraft carrier was operating in the area, the Chinese military on Monday deployed a Y-9 patrol plane and a BZK-005 reconnaissance drone to the Miyako Strait. Both aircraft flew over waters south of Japan's southwestern islands before returning to China. A pair of Chinese drones—whose types were not identified by Japan's Defense Ministry—were tracked flying over the East China Sea two days later. They transited between Taiwan and Japan's Yonaguni Island as they headed southward off the eastern coast of Taiwan. The Chinese Type 815A spy ship CNS Yuhengxing, top, and a Chinese Y-9 patrol plane, bottom, transit the Miyako Strait on June 28 and 30, 2025, respectively. The Chinese Type 815A spy ship CNS Yuhengxing, top, and a Chinese Y-9 patrol plane, bottom, transit the Miyako Strait on June 28 and 30, 2025, respectively. Japan's Defense Ministry A map provided by Japan's Defense Ministry indicates that one of the Chinese military drones returned to China via the so-called Yonaguni Gap—a waterway less than 70 miles wide that separates Taiwan's east coast from Japan's westernmost island of Yonaguni. However, the second Chinese drone continued its southward flight on Wednesday until it exited the Japanese military's monitoring zone. It is unclear whether the drone returned to China by flying over waters between southern Taiwan and the northern Philippines. Japan scrambled fighter jets on both Monday and Wednesday in response to Chinese aerial activities near the nation's airspace, the Japanese Defense Ministry said in its press releases. What People Are Saying Japan's defense white paper in 2024 read: "China has been rapidly building up military capabilities while intensifying its activities in the East China Sea, where the waters surrounding the Senkaku Islands are, as well as in the Pacific." The Senkaku Islands are an uninhabited islet group in the East China Sea, ruled by Japan but claimed by China and Taiwan as the Diaoyu Islands and the Diaoyutai Islands, respectively. Senior Colonel Zhang Xiaogang, spokesperson for China's Defense Ministry, said in April: "The Chinese military's operations in relevant waters and airspace are in line with international law and practices, and do not target any specific entity. They are aimed at enhancing our capability to safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests." What Happens Next China is likely to continue flexing its military power by deploying aircraft and ships across the Western Pacific, a move seen as challenging U.S. military dominance in the region.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
China's New KJ-3000 Airborne Early Warning Radar Jet Seen In Detail In New Image
New imagery has emerged of China's new heavyweight airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) platform, the KJ-3000, of which the first, low-quality photos began to appear last December, as we reported at the time. Based on the four-jet Y-20 cargo plane, the KJ-3000 is part of a fast-expanding and diversifying fleet of Chinese AEW&C aircraft, which also includes multiple iterations based on the four-turboprop Y-9 series of airlifters. While you can read the full story behind the development of China's AEW&C fleet in this previous in-depth article, the KJ-3000 is just one of the latest expressions of a massive investment in this area. As well as fielding an armada of AEW&C assets that is significantly larger than that of the U.S. Air Force, China is increasingly looking toward these assets as a key means of defending its interests as well as for pushing its combined aerial capabilities out further into the Indo-Pacific. The latest imagery shows the KJ-3000 on the ground at an undisclosed airfield in China. The aircraft still wears a coat of primer, and the serial number 7821 is clearly visible on the forward fuselage — as far as is known, this is the only example completed so far. So far best image of the KJ-3000 prototype, unfortunately heavily pixelated. — @Rupprecht_A (@RupprechtDeino) May 26, 2025 Although the aircraft is partially obscured, we can see the characteristic large circular radome on top of the rear fuselage. The KJ-3000 is also fitted with an aerial refueling probe mounted above the cockpit, and there is a prominent series of antennas arranged on top of the forward fuselage. Compared to the Y-20, the aircraft also features a very prominent intake at the base of the tailfin, likely a ram-air inlet to cool the extensive onboard electronics. The KJ-3000 has long been seen as the solution to meet China's requirement for a platform to supplement the KJ-2000 Mainring, which is, to date, its largest dedicated AEW&C aircraft. You can read about it and China's wider AEW&C developments in this previous in-depth article. The KJ-2000 is based on the Ilyushin Il-76MD Candid, another four-jet airlifter. Originally planned to be equipped with Israeli mission systems, this plan was derailed under pressure from the U.S. Clinton administration. Instead, the KJ-2000 was fitted with Chinese-developed systems, installed on four ex-China United Airlines Il-76MD aircraft. The KJ-2000's active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar comprises three antennas in a triangular configuration within a fixed radome. The four KJ-2000s were declared operational in 2007 and are based in Jiangsu province, facing key adversaries Japan and Taiwan. Regardless of the operational effectiveness of the KJ-2000, China was only able to produce more of these aircraft due to the strictly limited number of Russian-built Il-76MDs available for conversion. As a result, the Y-20 was quickly earmarked as a likely platform for a follow-on to the KJ-2000 and this program seems to have gained momentum once the definitive Y-20B transport became available in 2020. The Y-20B is powered by the domestically produced WS-20 high-bypass turbofan engine, which is a significant advance over the Russian D-30KP-2 engine found on the original Y-20A. Ok, it goes on and on and on: second surprise this morning, the new KJ-3000 (?) AEW performed its maiden flight at XAC and from what can be seen on the first few small & blurry images, it is as expected a Y-20B-based design featuring a large rotodome but also a bulge on the tail. — @Rupprecht_A (@RupprechtDeino) December 27, 2024 The KJ-3000 is not the first development of the Y-20 for the People's Liberation Air Force (PLAAF), another being the YY-20A aerial refueling tanker, which is also now in service. With such a small fleet of KJ-2000s available, and with these airframes tied to supply chains in Russia, maintenance and support cannot be straightforward, and these issues will only become more problematic as the aircraft gets older. With that in mind, the opportunity to introduce a potentially much larger fleet of KJ-3000s is a very big deal for the PLAAF, especially since it will also be more advanced than its predecessor. Once in service, the KJ-3000 will be easier to upgrade and, very importantly, it will be available for potential export. Pakistan, which already operates Chinese-supplied radar planes and which may well have used them to significant effect in its recent conflict with India, could be one country with an interest in buying them. Unclear is the degree to which the KJ-3000 may offer capabilities beyond those found in the KJ-2000, although this would appear to be a given, with the Mainring having made its maiden flight more than 20 years ago. As it is, the radar of the KJ-2000 is said to have a maximum range of almost 300 miles, and it's reportedly able to track hundreds of aerial targets simultaneously. Imagery available so far suggests that the KJ-3000 may use a radar array with two, rather than three antennas, although this cannot be confirmed at this point. And IMO even more important than all other so far posted news today, the so far blurry images of the KJ-3000 AEW are getting clearing,Interesting, it features an IRF-probe and – in contrast to the KJ-2000 – not a fixed radar with three arrays but a large rototome with two. — @Rupprecht_A (@RupprechtDeino) December 28, 2024 As we've discussed in the past, the KJ-3000, with its efficient engines and in-flight refueling capability, should offer plenty of advantages in terms of range, and on-station time. Chinese efforts to add aerial refueling capabilities to its AEW&C fleet are something that is referenced in the latest Pentagon report to Congress on China's military, released late last year. 'Production and deliveries of the KJ-500 — the PRC's most advanced airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft — continued at a rapid pace, joining earlier KJ-2000 Mainring and KJ-200 Moth variants,' the report states. 'These aircraft amplify the PLAAF's ability to detect, track, and target threats in varying conditions, in larger volumes, and at greater distances. It extends the range of the PLA's IADS [integrated air defense system] network. Furthermore, the PRC has produced at least one KJ-500 with an aerial refueling probe, which will improve the aircraft's ability to provide persistent AEW&C coverage.' The KJ-3000 would also be able to fly at higher altitudes to provide a better perch for its radar. This is very important, especially for providing 'look down' capability to spot and track low-flying aircraft and missiles that radars down below might not be able to 'see' due to terrain and other factors. The KJ-3000 almost certainly has other intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities beyond just its radar, as well. At least as important is its likely function as a networking node, reflecting a growing area of interest for the Chinese military in general, and something that is especially valuable over the long distances in the Indo-Pacific theater. The KJ-3000 was seen again — @Rupprecht_A (@RupprechtDeino) May 26, 2025 Uniquely, China is currently pursuing a multitrack approach to expanding its AEW&C fleet. As well as the heavyweight KJ-3000, there's a growing fleet of radar planes based on the smaller Y-9 transport. The latest of these is the KJ-700, which we discussed recently, and which is likely a 'multi-intelligence' aircraft, combining both airborne radar as well as an array of electro-optical and infrared sensors, likely intended to track targets across air, sea, and potentially land domains. The turboprop-powered KJ-700 joins the KJ-200 and KJ-500 series. As we have discussed before, these smaller types of turboprop-powered AEW&C platforms are especially well-suited to operations from more dispersed and even austere bases. As such, these mid-size radar planes regularly appear at some of China's island outposts, as well as operating routinely in the highly strategic Taiwan Strait. While we don't know for sure what kind of radar and other mission systems the KJ-3000 might be fitted with, its continued development is very significant as part of China's developing AEW&C capabilities. At the very least, a larger jet-powered airframe should be an important complement to the country's smaller but increasingly capable turboprop AEW&C platforms. Contact the author: thomas@


South China Morning Post
17-04-2025
- South China Morning Post
Has China's military added sophisticated KJ-700 radar plane to naval capability?
An image of a KJ-700 radar plane in flight that has emerged on Chinese social media suggests it is now in service, marking a significant upgrade of the People's Liberation Army's ability to detect stealth aircraft and missiles, according to military observers. Advertisement The social media user who uploaded the image did not say where or when it was taken, but the medium-sized airborne early warning and control aircraft was clearly identifiable against the sky, with landing gear down. Previous pictures have shown it on the ground. The plane's light grey paintwork is consistent with the PLA Navy's colours, suggesting that the KJ-700 has formally entered service in the naval branch's air wing. Visible features include its thimble-shaped nose cone, the distinctive pod below the cockpit, and large rectangular radar fairings on the rear fuselage. Part of the aircraft's rotodome can also be seen. Military website The War Zone said the KJ-700 appeared to combine airborne radar with an array of electro-optical and infrared sensors, 'likely intended to track targets across air, sea, and potentially land domains'. Advertisement Like its predecessor the KJ-500, the new aircraft is based on a Y-9 platform – the medium-weight transport plane powered by Chinese-made WJ-6C engines and six-wing propellers. An unofficial diagram previously published in the Chinese military magazine Naval & Merchant Ships, showed numerous sensors on the KJ-700, including what may be dual-band active electronically scanned array (AESA) antennas in the fairings of the rear fuselage.