What drones of Chinese origin are needed by the RF Armed Forces: versions and reflections

February 25 2023 29

In this publication, I would like to continue discussions on the topic of a hypothetical Chinese "Lend-Lease", which is now being trumpeted by foreign and domestic media. According to the German publication Der Spiegel, Russia may soon receive the first batch of 100 kamikaze drones ZT-180, similar to the Iranian Shahed-136. What drones are actually more needed by the RF Armed Forces?

Drone war

RuNet is literally full of reports that the Chinese drone manufacturer Xian Bingo Intelligent Aviation Technology is allegedly ready not only to supply its “kamikazde” drones, but even to build a plant in our country that will be able to assemble at least 100 Chinese analogues of Russian-Iranian "Geraney" monthly. The mass of the warhead of such a disposable drone is from 35 to 50 kilograms. Earlier, we recall, in the foreign media there was information that in Tatarstan, with the help of Iranian specialists, a plant would allegedly also be built, which would be able to produce improved localized modifications of the Shahed-136.

If all this is true, then such a militarytechnical Moscow's cooperation with Tehran and Beijing can only be welcomed. However, it is not entirely clear why the main emphasis is on the “suicide bombers”?

The experience of the NMD has shown that the Russian army critically needs reconnaissance and reconnaissance and strike drones for continuous air monitoring of the operational situation, target designation for artillery and adjustment of its fire, as well as air strikes from drones without risking the lives of pilots. And such UAVs of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation really need a lot. Ideally, almost every unit should have a couple of its own air reconnaissance aircraft with anti-tank missiles and bombs on a suspension.

Since we are talking about Chinese drones, let's see what is useful for the Russian military produced in China and, most importantly, exported.

"Bird" is not a pity

China has begun developing its unmanned aircraft, having carefully analyzed the experience of using the American MQ-1 Predator and MQ-9 Reaper UAVs in Afghanistan and the Middle East. As a result, the PLA was able to obtain several functional analogues of these UAVs.

For aerial reconnaissance and surveillance, jamming enemy communications systems, adjusting artillery fire, using communications and data transmission systems as a repeater, as well as issuing target designation to tactical missile systems, China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation has developed two UAVs of the Cai Hong series (“Rainbow ”) CH-1 and CH-2. However, in 2008, on their basis, a strike modification CH-3A was created.

The Chinese reconnaissance and strike drone has the following performance characteristics: wingspan - 7,9 meters, length - 5,1 meters, height - 2,4 meters, maximum takeoff weight - 640 kg, cruising speed - 180 km / h, maximum speed - 240 km / h, maximum flight altitude - 5 km. The radius of its action is 200 km, the flight range is 2000 km, the flight duration is 12 hours, and the payload mass is 100 kg. On the suspension, the UAV can carry laser-guided AR-1 missiles weighing 45 kg and small-sized FT-25 guided bombs weighing 25 kg, as well as two FT-5 bombs of 75 kg caliber with a warhead weighing 35 kg and CEP in the range of 3-5 m with satellite guidance. In addition, the drone can be used for electronic warfare and as a radio signal repeater. Under the export name Rainbow-3, these UAVs were supplied to Nigeria, Myanmar, Pakistan and Zambia.

A direct analogue of the American MQ-1 Predator is the Chinese CH-4 drone. Its length is 9 m, wingspan - 18 m, take-off weight - about 1300 kg. The pusher propeller on a piston engine provides a maximum speed of 230 km / h, cruising - 180 km / h, flight range - 3000 km, and flight duration - more than 30 hours. 4B. On four pylons under the wing, the latter can carry guided missiles and guided bombs with a total mass of up to 4 kg. Chinese CH-345A/B drones are exported to Algeria, Myanmar, Pakistan, Jordan, Iraq, Turkmenistan, UAE and Saudi Arabia. The cost of one unit is estimated at 4 million dollars.

A modified version of this drone called Tian Yi is equipped with two more compact engines and has a lower thermal signature. Its CH-4C version is equipped with a new engine with increased power and a power generator with increased performance, the strength of the airframe has been increased, which allows increasing the total weight of the combat load to 450 kg and using aviation ammunition weighing up to 100 kg. An important improvement is that the UAV in the CH-4C modification can be controlled via satellite communication channels.

Its older brother, the CH-5 UAV, has a wingspan of 21 m, a glider length of 11 m, a takeoff weight of 3300 kg, a 300 hp piston engine, a maximum flight speed of 310 km/h, and a cruising speed of 180-210 km. /h The maximum altitude of its flight is 7000 m, the drone can stay in the air for more than 36 hours. The payload weight of the Chinese UAV is 1200 kg. It can carry 24 AR-2 guided missiles on six underwing nodes. When controlling a drone with a ground station via a radio channel, its range is 250 km, and when using satellite control equipment, the range increases to 2000 km.

Also in this class, China has a competing drone Wing Loong, known in the export version as Pterodactyl I. Its wingspan is 14 m, length - 9,05 m, maximum speed - 280 km / h, patrol speed 150-180 km / h , practical ceiling - 5 meters. The device has a takeoff weight of 000 kg, equipped with a 1100 hp piston engine. and is capable of carrying a payload of up to 100 kg. Depending on the preferences of a foreign customer, the Pterodactyl I armament may include various guided aviation munitions weighing up to 200 kg. These can be 120–50 kg caliber air bombs, namely: FT 100, FT 10, YZ 7D, LS 212, CS / BBM6 and GB1, small-sized air-to-ground guided missiles such as AG 4M, AG 300L, Blue Arrow 300 , CM 7KG, and GAM 502A/B.

We may be interested in the fact that Wing Loong was exported to Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Nigeria and even Serbia. In a modified version called Wing Loong II with improved performance characteristics, this aircraft is produced in Saudi Arabia and Pakistan.

Information

Dear reader, to leave comments on the publication, you must sign in.

archer 13

+10

25 February 2023 14: 37

And where are our unparalleled drones. Isn't it time for someone to rip off shoulder straps and send them to cut pine trees!
1. rotkiv04
  
  +6
  
  25 February 2023 15: 40
  
  Quote: Sagittarius 13
  And where are our unparalleled drones. Isn't it time for someone to rip off shoulder straps and send them to cut pine trees!
  
  Zhdun does not abandon his
2. Nikolaevich I
  
  +6
  
  25 February 2023 16: 26
  
  Quote: Sagittarius 13
  Isn't it time for someone to rip off their shoulder straps and send them to cut pines!
  
  Officialdom in Russia (including the military ...) a long time ago acquired signs of a special (!) class, as close as possible to the concept of class! Hence, the bureaucracy has long adhered to its own rules: 1. "We do not abandon our own ... we do not punish, we do not offend ... !; 2. "The hand washes the hand ..."; 3. "The raven will not peck out the eyes of the crow ..." , mutual responsibility, corruption, embezzlement, neglect of the interests of the working class and the peasantry ... neglect of the interests of the state, because the bureaucracy is essentially "comprador" and does not serve the law, not the interests of the people and the state, not Russia (the Motherland); but its clan, class bureaucratic interests!: And the existing ruling regime of power, headed by Putin, is the guarantor of bureaucratic interests!
3. Afinogen
  
  +6
  
  25 February 2023 17: 37
  
  Quote: Sagittarius 13
  And where are our unparalleled drones.
  
  Drones??? Mobilization has begun, there is no warm uniform. On paper, everything is listed, but in reality it is not. Threw a call to the governors of the regions to dress the mobilized somehow and threw a hat on the people, we take off so that everything is our military. And those generals whose uniforms were only on paper were transferred to another position. In short, no one was hurt.
Igor

+3

25 February 2023 14: 53

Rzhunemagu! Nigeria, super poor (Karl !!!!) Nigeria even bought and HAS UAVs, which the Russian Federation does not have !!!!! Well, to what extent boots impenetrable in Russia rule the army, that even IN NIGERIA and then a long time ago understood the importance of having such a class of UAVs and found the funds to purchase them. This is crazy!
1. boriz
  
  -5
  
  25 February 2023 15: 27
  
  And who is in charge of you? Russia (unlike impoverished Nigeria) has more enemies and they are bigger. First we need weapons against them. Nuclear submarines, Sarmatians, planes, Hunter-level UAVs, space and much more...
  What do you have of yours? They forgot how to make tank barrels, after 200 shots it drops to half past six. You are begging all over the world, not so much arming the Armed Forces as driving to the left. Now the Republicans will figure out what went where.
  1. lord-palladore-11045
    
    0
    
    26 February 2023 22: 43
    
    And who is in charge of you? Russia (unlike impoverished Nigeria) has more enemies and they are bigger. First we need weapons against them. Nuclear submarines, Sarmatians, planes, Hunter-level UAVs, space and much more...
    
    - these are all excuses for a naughty schoolboy.
2. Smilodon terribilis nimis
  
  +1
  
  26 February 2023 01: 45
  
  Nigeria is the second largest economy in Africa.
Igor

-1

25 February 2023 15: 42

Quote: boriz
And who is in charge of you? Russia (unlike impoverished Nigeria) has more enemies and they are bigger. First we need weapons against them. Nuclear submarines, Sarmatians, planes, Hunter-level UAVs, space and much more...
What do you have of yours? They forgot how to make tank barrels, after 200 shots it drops to half past six. You are begging all over the world, not so much arming the Armed Forces as driving to the left. Now the Republicans will figure out what went where.

Well, firstly, Ukraine DOES NOT claim to be the Russian Federation for the role of a great power! to loosen the beggar beanbag Ukraine.
1. boriz
  
  0
  
  25 February 2023 20: 15
  
  Well, firstly, Ukraine does NOT claim to be the Russian Federation for the role of a great power
  
  Well, so sit and sniff in 2 holes, idiots.
  Who told you that the goal was to crush you quickly? It's none of your stupid mind's business!
  You were contracted for the role of meat, and you have been fulfilling this role since 1991. (although, in fact, much earlier).
  Russia is opposed to the entire Western world. And the beggar beggar will disappear along the way.
  
  And secondly, then estimate the level of wretchedness (well, it also turns out logically?) of the Russian Federation, which is not able even for a year !!!!! to loosen the beggar beanbag Ukraine.
  
  We sort out our relations with the major powers, and if the beggar stood (by her own stupidity) on the side of those who (by historical predestination) lose, these are her personal problems.
  Wants to disappear - let it disappear!
  1. Igor
    
    -1
    
    26 February 2023 16: 26
    
    Hmm ... really. I don’t even want to argue or don’t want to comment. Read part of just a good verse. It will definitely be useful for you - you will recognize yourself in it.
    
    Showing foresight
    Without any hassle:
    There is such a variety
    Very smart fools.
    
    Gives them problems
    Their great intelligence
    Drawing diagrams in my head
    Consuming the entire subject.
The comment was deleted.
Nikolaevich I

+1

25 February 2023 16: 45

Once I read an article where the author gave an overview of Chinese UAVs ... There is a lot of information ... you can’t tell in 2 words; but, in short, the main characteristic is this: there are a lot of "Fantasy" ... the quality is "lame"! By the way, this was very typical for the first stage of development of Chinese industry! Let's recall our concepts of "Chinese quality" and attitude towards it! In short, history repeats itself! First, Chinese UAVs made a splash in North Africa, and many countries in that region and nearby acquired China-Technics! But over time, disappointment arose both in the quality of Chinese unmanned vehicles, and in the quality of technical support (maintenance)! Some countries operating Chinese UAVs began to "hand over" drones for storage or sell to neighbors ... Those who continued to use drones still refused to purchase additional batches!
Sergey Latyshev

0

25 February 2023 17: 28

In fact, all Chinese drones are needed.
But China did not recognize not Crimea, not territories, and "for peace"

Deliver UAVs when China is "for peace" ??? it's a loss of face.

Consumer goods beads in exchange for raw materials? Please. And the UAV is incomprehensible
Sergei N

+1

25 February 2023 19: 18

Of course, it would not be bad if we had these UAVs.
zenion

0

25 February 2023 19: 25

Previously, the USSR showed the whole world what kind of aircraft should be. Of course everything was wrong. Everything is right now in Russia. Why make what you can buy!
1. lord-palladore-11045
  
  0
  
  26 February 2023 22: 49
  
  Why make what you can buy!
  
  bought enough - there is no electronic industry of its own! Even alarm clocks, and those are Chinese.
vlad127490

+4

25 February 2023 20: 13

Why would China sell weapons to the Russian Federation? The PRC has already benefited from the war in Ukraine. The EU and the US are trade partners of the PRC, and the PRC will not harm itself. Beijing needs Moscow as a supplier of cheap resources and a sales market, a safe border in the north - it already has all this. Do not build illusions. Flirting and hoping for help from China is naivete, bordering on a crime against the people of Russia. China is a neighbor that can stab in the back at any moment. This must always be remembered. Iran and North Korea can provide real military assistance. Discussing China is a waste of time.
Constantine N

0

25 February 2023 21: 30

there are big doubts that China will get involved in the NWO. But it would be nice to help with equipment for hypersonic missiles, so that Russia would be ready in the event of an escalation and a direct conflict with NATO.
1. lord-palladore-11045
  
  0
  
  26 February 2023 22: 58
  
  Previously, they made their own equipment, but now even what was squandered, in Soviet times there were REMPRI sections in the factories in each workshop, now they are gone - they have all been reduced. In the dashing 90s, all USP (Universal Assembled Device) were handed over to ferrous metal in whole machines. Now on this occasion they bite their elbows, but the train has left!
Igor

-1

25 February 2023 21: 37

Mr. author Sergey Marzhetsky! You have such an interesting fashion to write in a personal, so even when you need to answer and feel like it, then for some reason you are blocked. And what if Nigeria is rich in oil? I'm not talking about the wealth of deposits fossil countries wrote, but what financial and economic position in the world system of division of labor the country occupies and the presence of finance in the country and understanding the importance of something!
1. Afinogen
  
  +2
  
  25 February 2023 21: 43
  
  Quote: Igor
  Mr. author Sergey Marzhetsky! You have such an interesting fashion to write in a personal, but when you need to answer and feel like it, then for some reason you are blocked.
  
  Likewise. Why post if you can't reply? What's the point in that?
usm5

-1

25 February 2023 23: 35

I don’t understand why they fell for drones like that. These are pretty quiet machines. They can work effectively only in conditions of weakened air defense with overwhelming dominance in the sky or in the front line, where, due to intense hostilities, it is not possible to organize high-quality observations of the airspace. Their range of application becomes ridiculous as soon as the satellites are cut down. That's what we really need to tear off shoulder straps is for the presence of a NATO satellite constellation above our head. All these drones and high-precision weapons without a satellite constellation would lose their effectiveness by an order of magnitude. The only thing we can agree with is the use of drones loitering along the front line to locate and target weapons at low-flying targets. But for these purposes, unmanned airships can be used even more profitably. In general, they can barrage along the front line for months, detecting targets in the depths of enemy territory and issuing target designation to the corresponding means of destruction. It can be recognized as effective their use for reconnaissance during a local battle. Drone hysteria is the prerogative of this particular war because of its "outstanding" identity. It will take no more than a few years to develop and implement inexpensive means of detecting and suppressing these rather primitive devices. Another thing is combat robots that have artificial intelligence and can independently conduct combat operations. Here in this field Russia is obliged not to be late.
DO

+2

26 February 2023 02: 01

However, it is not entirely clear why the main emphasis is on the “suicide bombers”?

Kamikaze drones have the following significant advantages over reconnaissance strike drones:
- video guidance by the operator (Lancets) on the final section of the trajectory - gives the operator the opportunity to select any angle of attack of the target and from any side, along an arbitrary curvilinear trajectory; guidance control until the last seconds, which significantly increases the percentage of hits in the desired target area (weak spots of equipment, windows and other openings in the positions of snipers and ATGM / MANPADS operators);
- the maximum possible ratio of the mass of the warhead to the mass of the drone, which allows the kamikaze drone to be a small and difficult target for air defense, and at the same time hit the target's armor.
On the other hand, of course, disposable kamikaze drones cannot have the same high-quality reconnaissance functions as reconnaissance drones, for the banal reason of the economically forced low price of their video equipment.
Reconnaissance drones can hang bombs and rockets to hit low-protected targets, according to the "saw-killed" principle. For serious and priority targets like artillery, armored personnel carriers and enemy tanks, a bunch of reconnaissance drones and kamikaze drones are needed.
Igor

-1

26 February 2023 04: 37

What are you kidding about?! Nigeria's GDP at PPP for 2019 per capita is $5967 (132nd in the world). RF GDP per capita▲$30 (PPP, 876 - 2021st place in the world).
The difference is many times!
Igor

0

26 February 2023 16: 41

Mr. author Sergey Marzhetsky! You wrote to me in a personal again, but I can only answer this way here too. I don’t know how to convey to you my simplest idea AGAIN: even in the poorer oil and gas Nigeria, the leadership FINDED funds for those types of UAVs that almost NO in the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation and the Nigerian leadership turned out to be more far-sighted, far-sighted, smart in this matter than the "brilliant leadership" of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.
Pilot

0

26 February 2023 18: 11

Siberia, Siberia, what expanse!!!!!
Your natural wealth is so great
that no matter how hard,
will never be able to unravel.
Alexbf109

+2

27 February 2023 09: 18

For such readiness of the "reindeer breeder" army, it's time to be shot! Let him also say hello to his son-in-law, a dill lover!
Cucumbers

0

2 March 2023 22: 52

China has already stopped selling drones from Aliexpress to Russia. All! And then they dreamed .... cooperation .... joint ventures ... Only with Iran can you do business
huitzilo

0

April 8 2023 01: 39

Jajaja, ojalá me equivoque, ojalá ocurriera que, China por su propia supervivencia se decidiera a apoyar militarmente a Rusia en la guerra contra el occidente colectivo encabezado por USA pero, los chinos son demasiado prudentes o demasiado calculadores y, tendrían que pasar muchas cosas que el gobierno del país asiatico tome una decisión de esa envergadura.