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DR-8 Hypersonic Drone Testbed

This may be an entirely real program, or some or all of this "program" may be "an obvious Commie trick". What has been seen to date constitutes little more than some artwork and aeroshells that could be easily fabricated fiberglass models, intended to mislead the Americans. At least some of what China has publicly displayed is surely deceptive, and this is a pretty good candidate for such deception.

According to Hong Kong's "South China Morning Post (SCMP)" reported on the 17th, on the day of the upcoming National Day celebrations on the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, there is the possibility of open supersonic drones. The new UAV model was identified as DR-8 or Wuzhen-8. DR-8 is the UAV model. Supersonic speed is important when the Chinese Navy encounters the combat group of US aircraft carriers in the South China Sea or the Western Pacific. The DR-8 is responsible for tracking down and navigating China's DF-21D "Carrier Killer" and DF-26 ballistic missiles. According to Zhou Chenming, a military expert in Beijing, DR-8 can reach a top speed of up to 4,000 km / h through the enemy air defense network and return with intelligence. This UAV model is fully capable of reaching the US island of Guam in the western Pacific.

TSC Beijing, one of the world leaders in 3D printed metal aviation parts, has achieved significant time and cost savings by 3D printing this titanium center fuselage box for a "high-speed" Chinese drone. TSC Beijing, a Chinese titanium manufacturer, successfully 3D printed a titanium fuselage central box for its high-speed aircraft, which cuts production time from two years down to just six months. TSC used the 3D laser printer TSC-S4510 (one of the world's largest 3D printers) to print the fuselage, within an error tolerance of less than 0.5mm. The intended aircraft was identified only as a "high-speed" (read: hypersonic) aircraft. Given its narrow wing roots, and 23-foot total length, it is likely a hypersonic UAV.

One likely candidate for the titanium airframe is a single engine, high-supersonic UAV with narrow wings and a needle-like airframe. Possibly designated the DR-8, it is believed to be an air-launched UAV used to test high-speed propulsion technologies, such as a turbine ramjet combined cycle engine. TSC Beijing's rapidly printed 3D components have an impact beyond any one system—they could allow China to field more test UAVs soon, speeding up next-generation hypersonic technologies.

As a rule, the contour of the cross-section of the nose portion of the fuselage of supersonic aircraft has the shape of a circle. With the nose portion being of this shape, the aerodynamic center is considerably shifted when switching from the subsonic speed to the supersonic speed. This shape also brings about a decrease in the aircraft directional stability and, as a result thereof, the area of the fin has to be increased. In addition, this disturbs the united vortex system of the fuselage along with the wing.

To eliminate these difficulties, use is made of aerodynamic edges arranged along the sides of the nose portion of the fuselage from the nose to the wing. However, the great surface of these edges decreases the maximal aerodynamic ratio of the aircraft. In order to provide for better operating conditions of the air intake ducts, with the engines disposed under the wing middle portion, a nose portion having a cross-section of a circular shape must be mounted above the wing. With the above described aircraft, the surface of friction is increased, and the boundary layer bleed of the fuselage and the wing also increases. Simultaneously, the size of the air craft along the vertical line likewise becomes greater, and this is particularly the situation at the point of disposition of the air intake ducts.

Moreover, with the air intake ducts disposed before the aircraft e.g., to provide for a higher directional stability of the aircraft, the area of the fin must be increased, thereby resulting in a greater resistance on the part of the aircraft. In addition, the weight of the aircraft increases.

Mounted in the lower portion of the fuselage is a delta wing and nacelles accomodating engines and air intake ducts are located under the middle portion of the wing. The contour of the cross section of the nose portion of the fuselage, except for its end, is essentially two arcs of different circumferences, disposed one above the other.