China is worried about new US stealth drones

   

The conclusions of Chinese experts come with several major caveats. Their analysis relies entirely on open-source information and “reverse-engineering softwᴀʀe.” 

Chinese engineers say they have identified critical weaknesses in an upcoming state-of-the-art U.S. stealth combat drone.

A paper published in the Chinese peer-reviewed journal Aircraft Design gave an in-depth evaluation of the XQ-58A Valkyrie unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) that is being developed by Kratos Defense & Security Solutions. As first reported by the South China Morning Post, the paper was unimpressed by the drone’s aerodynamic performance, noting that the Valkyrie can withstand a pull of “only” 1.7 that of gravity. This is a major liability in typical dogfighting scenarios because, according to the South China Morning Post’s summary of the report, “most fighter jets need to brake against a force seven times that of gravity or higher.”

US Air Force Releases Video of New Combat Drone: XQ-58A Valkyrie:

A separate study conducted by China’s National University of Defence Technology reached a similar conclusion. “Under the premise of effective detection, the XQ-58A’s weaker maneuverability can lead to its destruction by ground-based mid-range anti-air guns, air-based over-the-horizon missiles or close combat by fighter jets,” noted Professor Guo Zheng and colleagues. Guo said that the drone is vulnerable to electronic countermeasures (ECM) tools that could sever the link between the Valkyrie and its human operators, or disable it outright with a “powerful electromagnetic pulse weapon.”

The conclusions of Chinese experts come with several major caveats. Their analysis relies entirely on open-source information and “reverse-engineering softwᴀʀe,” however, the  XQ-58A is still under development and could undergo any number of specifications changes prior to entering serial production. More fundamentally, the analysis in these two papers appears to try to box the Valkyrie into a role it is not designed for. The XQ-58A is not a dogfighting drone. It is, instead, a loyal wingman UCAV meant to support and escort the F-35 and F-22 fifth-generation fighter jets. The Valkyrie’s mission parameters involve long-range scouting, reconnaissance, surveillance, and strikes against ground targets with its 250-kilogram onboard payload of Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) spread across eight hardpoints. The Valkyrie need not be fast or maneuverable to accomplish these goals.

In keeping with U.S. Air Force requirements, the Valkyrie must be broadly autonomous. Even if, as speculated by the Chinese researchers, a hypothetical ECM attack were to sever communications between the Valkyrie and its human operators, the drone would still be guided by its onboard sensors and algorithms to execute battlefield tasks. The newspaper added that, although the Valkyrie is being advertised as a low-cost reusable drone, it is in effect intended to carry out “suicide” missions. While it is not primarily or exclusively designed to go on suicide sorties, there is no doubt that the Valkyrie’s expendability will factor into its use case; the fact that it is both unmanned and cheap makes it an obvious candidate for absorbing enemy fire or running high-risk strike missions deep in enemy airspace.

Despite its pointed criticisms, the Chinese research paper avers that the XQ-58A’s networking capabilities could make it a mainstay of US airpower. “Through the inversion of the XQ-58A design process, it can be seen that with the continuous breakthroughs in artificial intelligence and network data transmission technology, the ‘loyal wingman’ represented by XQ-58A will gradually become the main force on the battlefield and become a new leading power in the transformation of the man-machine coordinated combat model,” according to the research paper.

The Valkyrie completed its sixth flight test earlier in 2021. The project for which the XQ-58A is being developed, Skyborg, is slated to become a program of record in 2023.

Related Posts

The rotor blades, or blades of a helicopter, have an asymmetrical shape that highlights a unique design intended to maximize aerodynamic performance.

Contrary to its portrayal in мoʋies and pictures, the shape of helicopter Ƅlades, or rotor Ƅlades, is not syммetric, showcasing a distinct design tailored for optiмal aerodynaмic…

Beyond the Sky: Disclosing NASA’s Ingenious Methods Pushing the Boundaries of Future Aircraft Designs

Here are NASA’s мost exciting future aircraft concepts. As per the outlined ѕtгаteɡу, these innovative aircraft concepts from NASA are projected for implementation by 2025. The image…

the Coyote Reconnaissance Vehicle (LAV II): A Cutting-Edge Vigilante in the Shadow of Conflict

In the ever-evolving landscape of modern warfare, the Coyote Reconnaissance Vehicle, known as LAV II (Light Armoured Vehicle II), emerges as a silent sentinel, blending cutting-edge technology…

US Shares the $600 Million LCS Independence: Two Strong Women

“US Uпveils $600 Millioп LCS Iпdepeпdeпce: A Trio of Mighty Warships” Iп a momeпtoυs aппoυпcemeпt, the Uпited States has proυdly revealed the commissioпiпg of the LCS Iпdepeпdeпce,…

Investigate the Nemeziv Ifv Advanced Heavy Infantry Fighting Vehicle.

In the realm of modern military affairs, the strength of a nation is often gauged by the capabilities of their armed forces. In that vision, the development…

The largest aircraft carrier in the world, the USS Gerald R. Ford, can accommodate hundreds of aircraft.

The USS Gerald R. Ford, capable of carrying over 75 aircraft, is the largest aircraft carrier in the world. The $13 Billion, 337m-long flagship aircraft carrier joined…

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *