WZ-6 / K/JWR6
The suspected Chinese "Fire Scout" carrier-based unmanned helicopter model appeared on the 075 amphibious landing ship. The first domestically-made large-scale amphibious landing ship 075 class under construction showed new trends. A large helicopter model of the Zhi-8 series and a suspected domestically-made fire scout unmanned helicopter [may be a model] appeared on the deck at the same time. This new trend not only foreshadows the rapid construction of the 075 class amphibious landing ship, and will soon begin trial voyages, it also indicates that China has confirmed the completion of the research and development of the domestically-made fire-reconnaissance unmanned helicopter. Joined the Chinese navy with the 075 class amphibious landing ship. According to speculation, the Chinese version of the fire scout exposed this time is suspected to be the WZ6B unmanned helicopter that was publicly exhibited by a certain domestic company in 2014.
At an exhibition in September 2014, the 60th General Staff Office at the time exhibited a dedicated ship-based unmanned helicopter WZ-6B, which has the ability to autonomously take off and land on the surface of the movement, and can perform battlefield reconnaissance, target instructions, and communications. Relay, electronic countermeasures and other tasks. The maximum take-off weight of the WZ-6B type reaches 1600 kg, the load is 250 kg, and the endurance time can reach 8 hours. The overall performance is similar to the US MQ-8B "Fire Scout". This shows that China has broken through the key technologies of medium and large-scale ship-borne drones, and it also indicates that China's ship-borne drones, especially ship-based unmanned helicopters, may be developed rapidly like land-based drones.
A ship-borne unmanned helicopter is an unmanned helicopter that can take off and land on the ship’s helicopter deck. It can perform various tasks such as maritime early warning, alert, target indication, electronic reconnaissance, communication relay, electronic countermeasures and combat operations. Because of the separation of man and machine, there is no need to consider the fatigue and safety of pilots, and it can be used to perform high-risk missions at sea.
The history of China’s unmanned helicopter research and development is not short, but the media prefers to say that China is copying other people’s things. Initially there were two main types of ship-mounted unmanned helicopters in China. One is the Austrian S-100 unmanned helicopter. This type of drone has been favored by many countries; the other is the Swedish APID-60 unmanned helicopter. . However, these two types of helicopters belong to small drones purchased from abroad, which is far from the future needs of our navy. This unmanned helicopter has indeed appeared in the domestic police equipment expo, but there is no reason to prove that it is used by the military. China holds an annual drone conference. Only in the fifth session in 2015, more than one manufacturer showed a model similar to "Camcomput".
Of particular note is the WZ-6B type, which is an unmanned helicopter developed by military units. Its shape design is closer to that of the US military's RQ-8A "Fire Scout" drone. The "Fire Scout" extensively used the mature technology of civilian Schweitzer 333 helicopters. The maximum take-off weight of the WZ-6B type reaches 1600 kg, the load is 250 kg, the endurance time is 8 hours, the maximum level flight speed is 230 km/h, and the practical ceiling is 3000 meters. As long as it is compared, it can not match the performance parameters of the US-made "Fire Scout". The maximum take-off weight of the "Fire Scout" is only 1150 kg, even if it is an improved version, it will not exceed 1300 kg. The difference should also be described as imitation, that is a joke.
The WZ-6B drone is a dedicated carrier-based unmanned helicopter, which has the ability to take off and land on the surface of the sport surface. For this purpose, it is equipped with a harpoon assisted landing system, a high-precision surface guidance system, and has the autonomy of the motion surface. The take-off and landing capabilities are suitable for carrying large and medium-sized surface ships, and can perform various tasks such as battlefield reconnaissance, target indication, communication relay, and electronic countermeasures.
PLAN vessels are known to operate UAVs and unmanned helicopters for use in support of maritime ISR capabilities. The S-100, purchased in 2010 from the Swedish company Schiebel, has been observed operating off of PLAN surface combatants, including the Type-054 frigate.76 Going forward, the PLAN will likely continue to field and integrate further UAVs and unmanned helicopters into its fleets, including the WZ-6B unmanned helicopter, developed indigenously by the former General Staff Department’s 60th Research Institute, which has a range of 200 kilometers and maximum endurance of 6 hours. This institute is also known as the Nanjing Research Institute of Simulation Technology, and it has likely shifted under the CMC Equipment Development Department since the reforms.
Its shape is quite smooth. In addition to a photoelectric detection system under the nose, the overall body surface is smooth and the side has sharp fold lines. It is likely to reduce the radar signal. It is not an exaggeration to call it a stealth machine. Considering that its load reaches 250 kg, it also has a certain attack capability, as long as it is equipped with a weapon hanger, it is estimated that at least 4 AKD-10 air-to-air missiles can be carried, which can be carried with the "Fire Scout" at most. Compared with the eight 70mm rockets, there is a difference of at least one level.
According to foreign media sources, in 2013, the Chinese Navy conducted an unmanned helicopter ship test, which was said to be a "Camcomput" drone, but it is now suspected that it is a WZ-6B drone. It can be said that we have overcome a difficult problem in drone technology, which not only allows unmanned helicopters to land, but also has the potential to develop attack capabilities. This progress has a great impact on Russian naval personnel. When they saw such exhibits at the exhibition, they were really ashamed, and lamented that in the development of new technologies, Russia can no longer compare with China.
On 22 September 2020, the 6th China (Beijing) Military Intelligent Technology and Equipment Expo opened at the National Convention Center. In the context of the cancellation or postponement of many domestic defense exhibitions, the current China (Beijing) Military Intelligent Technology and Equipment Expo can be held as scheduled, which is indeed commendable. Although the number of exhibitors is not large, and the exhibition area is not very large, there are also many bright exhibits.
In addition to the Z-5B/H carrier-based unmanned helicopter, according to the publicity materials of the exhibitors, it is also developing a new generation of larger Z-6B/H carrier-based unmanned helicopter. The latter's maximum take-off weight has reached 1700 kg, which is between MQ-8A and MQ-8C. Moreover, the Z-6B/H carrier-based unmanned helicopter has a maximum mission load of up to 500 kilograms, which can carry larger and heavier equipment and ammunition.
According to the exhibitors’ vision, the Z-6B/H carrier-based unmanned helicopter can perform wide-area search, anti-submarine search, port blockade, and port blockade by carrying mission loads such as photoelectric pods, AIS systems, sonar, mine-laying equipment, and anti-ship missiles. Ship strikes, anti-low-slow small drone clusters and other tasks. This also means that the Z-6B/H carrier-based unmanned helicopter will become the world's first anti-ship unmanned helicopter after mounting a small anti-ship missile. Moreover, the aircraft's larger dimensions and take-off weight are also more suitable for equipment on large surface warships such as aircraft carriers, amphibious assault ships, and 10,000-ton destroyers.
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