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A CCTV report shows the most powerful stealth fighter aircraft developed in China, the J-11, along with several heavy attack and reconnaissance drones GJ-11.
VIDEO: China tries to harness its advanced drones in joint operations with stealth fighters
China is investigating the possibility of using its advanced drones in conjunction with the J-11, the most powerful stealth fighter aircraft developed in the country, according to the South China Morning Post, citing a recent report by state television CCTV.
Through From computer-generated animation, CCTV showed China’s attempts to adopt the next-generation fighter program, known as ‘Next Generation Air Dominance’ (NGAD), developed by the US for joint combat between manned and unmanned aircraft. Thus, in a video you can see a two-seater J-37 plane, with a seat designed to hold a “weapons officer”, along with several heavy attack and reconnaissance drones GJ-11 Sharp Sword.
According to defense expert Wei Dongxu, thanks to this guy of joint operations, in the combats of the future, drones will adopt the role of stealth aircraft piloted in offensive attacks.
“On the battlefield of tomorrow, joint operations between the fifth-generation piloted aircraft and stealth drones will form a powerful stealth air combat squadron that will connect and communicate via a big data-supported connection,” he said, adding that the second pilot would command the drones to carry out strikes, leaving the other pilot “focus on flight control”.
Furthermore, the report reveals that, to strengthen its drone attacks, Beijing has developed numerous types of “smart munitions” with auto-navigation capabilities, such as the CH-817, mini-bomb of 850 grams or the Feihong-817, cruise missile 2. 0 grams.
At the same time, according to Song Zhongping, a former instructor in the People’s Liberation Army, in the future the GJ-11 will not be the only drone that can be combined with the J-20, which will not be the only platform that applies the NGAD concept. He states that this program can be implemented on any next-generation two-seater aircraft, while other types of UAVs could also be “loyal companions” for any aerial platform.
