Happy New Year, all!
A few new things in the world of weapons.
The Chinese Jui Tian drone “mothership” we wrote about earlier in the year took its frist test flights this month.
The massive remotely piloted jet carries up to 100 drones, which it can launch while airborne to reach faraway targets. Able to take off with a payload over 13,200 pounds and with a wingspan of 82 feet, Chinese military aviation analyst Fu Qianshao noted that it can carry more weapons and equipment than modern fighter jets and bombers. It has designated hardpoints for guided missiles and bombs on top of the 100 drones.
With a focus on long-range ballistic missiles and a fighter fleet with the capabilities to operate deep in the ocean, China is looking for ways to improve the range of its aerial army. The incoming army of drones from multiple directions would prove difficult for the opposition to deal with. SlashGear
From the way this was written, the development of the actual drones it carries is still under development, as they say now it will probably used for heavy-lift flights to remote locations and disaster relief, which implies it is built for limited-length runways and will be pretty versatile in its final form. For comparison, 82 feet is about 15 feet shy of the wingspan of a C47/DC3, and almost twice the 48 foot wingspan of Predator drone, and can carry double what the DC3 could carry.
Moving on to Israel – they have officially adopted the SIGMA 155 system – a 10×10 truck mounted 155mm howitzer.
It was developed by Elbit as an autonomous unit with an automatic shell loading capability and a firing range of about 40 kilometers. The system needs only three crew members to operate.
These will replace the old American Paladin systems the IDF uses now.
They are also formally adopting in the Iron Beam laser air-defense system.
The system was developed by Rafael and was tested during the Iron Swords War, with successful interceptions of rockets, mortars and drones from Lebanon.
The Iron Beam laser will be integrated as part of Israel’s multi-layered air defense alongside the Iron Dome, David’s Sling and the Arrow air defense systems. Defense News
Sometimes it seems all the sci-fi I read as a kid is coming true.
And, we seem to be reversing course on railguns. As we wrote previously, the Navy had decided to stop research on railguns when they were unable to get a reliable one designed. Since that time, the Japanese have had one out in sea trials, the Chinese claim to have one in production, and as I wrote HERE General Dynamics say they have one designed to fit on a flat-bad truck. The President wants to put railguns on his new ‘battleships’.
On Monday, Trump announced that the Navy would build between 20 and 25 of a new class of ships as part of his “Golden Fleet” shipbuilding effort, and that each vessel would bristle with a variety of armaments including “state-of-the-art electric railguns.”
The Navy also released a mock-up of the first vessel in the new battleship class, which shows the surface combatant is expected to have a 32 megajoule railgun on the bow of the ship. A railgun with that much power could fire a projectile more than 100 nautical miles, according to the Office of Naval Research. Task&Purpose
Who knows, at the typical rate of Navy builds, maybe our kids will actually see them. Or our grandkids.
“It has designated hardpoints”
I’ll bet the nose is one of them.
And when that side panel opens up, the wind rips it off, taking
the wing with it.
Minor glitch… Chicoms will just build lots.
“Sitting Duck”
I am surprised at the Chinese advance, considering we haven’t already built one they could steal. I am predicting failure.
“I am predicting failure”
You mean like the sub that sank at dockside?
Or was that the Norks?
Norks, but they’ll do anything Chicoms won’t get caught dead doing for a buck.
How stealthy is that thing? Speed? Looks like it’d be very easy to spot it inbound.
With a dick head like that, probably spot it on the ground.
That cannon would be neat for ringing in the new year. Also for solar sales people, porch pirates etc. The possibilities are endless.
Imagine even a few, four or five, of the Chinese drone carrier aircraft making a pass over Taiwan. Hundreds of drones, each independently targeted to key places around major airfields, military bases, docks, etc.
A great deal of harm could be done, and once released, the drones would be difficult to destroy.
Unless you have a few of those Iron Bean Lasers attached to “fossil” fuel generators and a half decent anti-drone radar.
This is going to be interesting.
Or some 4th Gen fighters with AMRAAMs
Or an Aegis destroyer st sea.
Deploying drones in the air from a flying mothership is bound to be difficult. My experience with drones is limited to the Ravens and Hornets, who do well for Company level tactical intel gathering, and can fly easily from the back hatch of a moving ground vehicle like the Stryker.
However, deploying drones in the air is very different game. I am sure they will be optimized for aerodynamic flying, but even then, I expect to see some type of rear ramp deployment system, not to the sides of the mothership as shown in that graphic.
Which brings to mind, that our venerable C-130 might be the ideal aircraft for a drone mothership. An AI controlled, man-in-the-loop remotely, a C130 could drop a shitton of drones through the back ramp. It doesn’t need to be stealth if it is unmanned and well behind the air units contesting the airspace from the enemy.
Edit: can’t type for shit
Think your post answers SFC D’s post above. Doesn’t need to be that stealthy if it never gets up to the FEBA – it’s just a bulk carrier to get a whole lot of drones near the battle.
Rotory launcher and bomb-bay doors. Or, bomb bay racks that let bombers drop a crapton of small bombs.
The “cruise missile” of the eighties is the “drone” of 2020s. Only now we have a bunch of sizes and missions.
I pulled out Popular Mechanics book “the amazing weapons that never were” from the bookcase published in 2012 and am going to look for the rail gun large aircraft and lasers…. Book was printed in China, Hmmmmmmm