The J-20 is China’s most potent stealth fighter, but a new aircraft under development could soon claim that title. Photo: CNS/AFP

Smooth test flight proves ‘new concept’ human-drone design for China’s next-gen fighter

A new aircraft combining a stealth fighter with two drones that can break away in a flash is the latest weapon in China’s arsenal

Stephen Chenin Beijing

Published: 10:00am, 28 Jun 2024

South China Morning Post

14 hours ago

Smooth test flight proves 'new concept' human-drone design for China's next-gen fighter | South China Morning Post

China unveils groundbreaking stealth fighter with drone integration in test flight
By Dimsumdaily Hong Kong
-11:26AM Fri June 28, 2024

This test marks a breakthrough in the “new concept” for the Chinese Air Force’s future fighter jets, aiming to enhance manned and unmanned collaborative combat capabilities.

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28th June 2024 – (Ningxia) Chinese engineers and scientists have successfully conducted a test flight of a new stealth fighter jet, demonstrating advanced features that could redefine aerial warfare. The event took place at an undisclosed airport on the southern edge of the Mu Us Desert, showcasing a jet equipped with innovative drone integration technology.
The aircraft, distinguished by its blended wing body and delta wing design, is tailored for high-speed stealth operations. During the test, the jet exhibited a novel capability where segments of its wings detached to form two autonomous “flying wing” drones, powered by electric ducted fans. This transformation, however, initially caused a slight tremor in the fighter due to the sudden change in aerodynamics and centre of gravity.
Despite the initial instability, the main aircraft and the drones quickly stabilized, affirming the design’s aerodynamic efficiency and the robustness of its automatic control systems.

This test marks a breakthrough in the “new concept” for the Chinese Air Force’s future fighter jets, aiming to enhance manned and unmanned collaborative combat capabilities.
Senior engineer Du Xin from the Aerospace Technology Institute at the China Aerodynamics Research and Development Centre (CARDC) highlighted the test’s success. According to Du, this integration allows for a coordinated operation between the manned jet and unmanned drones, effectively solving issues like speed mismatch and range limitations typically seen in standalone drone operations.
The peer-reviewed findings, published in the Chinese journal ‘Advances in Aeronautical Science and Engineering,’ detail the dual drone attachment at the rear edge of the jet’s wings, a strategic design choice by the CARDC team. This configuration not only aids in achieving aerodynamic stability but also presents a controlled environment even during the drones’ detachment.

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After some initial instability, all three of the aircraft were able to stay airborne under their own propulsion systems.

Updated: Jun 28, 2024 05:57 AM EST
Christopher McFadden
7 hours ago

Stock image of one of China's J-20 stealth fighter in flight.
Wikimedia Commons
Chinese engineers have reportedly tested a new “combiner” blended-wing stealth aircraft with detachable drone wings.
Reminiscent of “combiner” or “mini-con” transformers from the 1980s and 1990s, the new stealth fighter-come-drone mothership was tested at an undisclosed airport on the southern edge of the Mu Us Desert.
In the event that some have called aerial warfare a “redefining” moment, if reports are true, the novel aircraft could indeed change aerial combat forever. The aircraft is said to stand out with its blended wing body and delta wing design, optimized for high-speed stealth operations.

According to sources like the South China Morning Post (SCMP), during the test, the jet demonstrated a unique ability:

sections of its wings separated to create two independent “flying wing” drones.
Each drone was allegedly powered by its own electric ducted fans.

However, this transformation initially caused a minor tremor in the fighter due to the sudden aerodynamic shift and center of gravity. At the time of writing, no video or still imagery of the test is available to confirm the event.

Aerial warfare “redefined”

After some initial instability, the main aircraft and the drones quickly stabilized, demonstrating the design’s “aerodynamic efficiency and the robustness of its automatic control systems.” If true, this test represents a significant advancement in the “new concept” for the Chinese Air Force’s future fighter jets.

Senior engineer Du Xin from the Aerospace Technology Institute at the China Aerodynamics Research and Development Centre (CARDC) emphasized the test’s success. Du says this integration enables coordinated operation between the manned jet and unmanned drones.

This, in his view, effectively addresses issues such as speed mismatch and range limitations commonly observed in standalone drone operations. “It represents an advanced mode of manned/unmanned collaborative combat, where multiple aircraft with different functions are integrated for coordinated flight,” Du explained.

“This can effectively address issues such as speed mismatch and range incompatibility between manned and unmanned aircraft, achieving complementary advantages,” he added.

Yang Wei, the chief designer of the J-20 aircraft, has stated on multiple occasions in recent years that China is developing a new generation of stealth fighters specifically designed to work in conjunction with drones. The J-20 currently serves as China’s most advanced stealth fighter, and the Chinese Air Force is currently testing a two-seat variant, which will allow one pilot to focus solely on interacting with drones.

However, most drones cannot match the speed and range of manned fighters. Yang mentioned that China’s next-generation fighter has an unexpected shape-changing capability.

An actual transforming stealth fighter

Yang previously suggested that future aircraft could resemble the transformers seen in science fiction movies.

“Future aircraft may be like the transformers in science fiction movies,” Yang told state broadcaster CCTV in 2020. In 2022, he also said, “In the near future, we will soon see the J-30 and J-40 (as the successors to the J-20).”

“The main aircraft connects to the leading edges of two sub-aircraft wings via a retractable separation mechanism at the main wing’s trailing edge,” Du and his team wrote in their paper on the new aircraft.

This design makes the aircraft more stable during flight, but it also presents a challenge for formulating control laws because the center of gravity and focus of the aircraft can undergo drastic shifts before and after detachment.

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the J 20 can effectively command multiple “loyal wingmen” stealth drones in complex operations.

In recent years, the United States, Russia and China have been actively building a combination of 6th generation stealth fighters to work in tandem with loyal wingmen, But China appears to be making the fastest progress.

US F-22, F-35 and Russian SU-57 fighter jets do not yet have the two-seat version, nor the capability to operate in conjunction with drone’s fleet.

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The J 20s has not just added a pilot, but data the information capability have made a huge leap in battlefield situational awareness.

That is why it needs two pilots, because the new improved radar and photoelectric systems datalink the battlefield awareness data processing system can be better collected, processed and outputted.

This also required a second pilot for the J 20 be able to better manage the massive increase in data collected by J-20 itself and loyal wingmen.

Here are some key points about the J-20 and its accompanying "loyal wingman" concept:

1. Stealth technology: The J-20 is designed with advanced stealth technology, making it difficult to detect by radar. The aircraft's shape and composition are optimized to reduce its radar signature, making it harder for enemy forces to track and engage. 2. Maneuverability: The J-20 is highly maneuverable, thanks to its aerodynamic design and powerful engines. It can fly at supersonic speeds and perform complex aerial maneuvers, making it a formidable opponent in air-to-air combat. 3. Armament: The J-20 is equipped with a variety of advanced weapons, including air-to-air missiles and air-to-surface missiles. It also has an internal cannon for close-range engagements. 4. Avionics: The J-20 is equipped with advanced avionics, including a radar system that can track multiple targets at once, as well as advanced communication and navigation systems. 5. Loyal Wingman concept: The loyal wingman concept involves pairing the J-20 with unmanned aircraft that can operate as "wingmen" to the main fighter. These unmanned aircraft can perform a variety of tasks, including reconnaissance, electronic warfare, and even offensive operations. The J-20 can control these wingmen, allowing for more coordinated and effective operations. Drones can perform the most dangerous tasks such as going deep into an enemy's well protected area to find out what's going on, or dogfighting with the enemy's most advanced stealth fighters, or flying closer to a target for reconnaissance.

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28 June 2024

China J-20 Stealth Fighter With Wingman Drones