China’s All-New Stealth Drone Will Be Ready Next Year

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A Chinese company is now developing a new stealth unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), that could be a game changer in the region.

Star UAV System Co Ltd, a Chengdu-based developer of UAVs, has unveiled its export-oriented Star Shadow unmanned air vehicle concept at a recent airshow.

Specifically designed as a low-observable and highly survivable surveillance and strike platform, the Star Shadow is envisioned to have a maximum take-off weight (MTOW) of 4,000 kg and feature a truncated diamond-shaped airframe measuring an overall length of 7.3 m with swept back outer wings that have a total span of 15 m. According to the company, this configuration offers radar cross section (RCS) characteristics in the range of 0.1 m²  (RCS is a measure of how detectable an object is by radar. A larger RCS indicates that an object is more easily detected).

According to uasvision.com, control surfaces are built into the trailing edges and upper sections of the fuselage and wings, with a pair of dorsally mounted, low observable engine intakes located on either side of the nose leading to similarly configured exhaust outlets towards the rear of the fuselage.

Take-off and recovery will be affected via conventional means, with the air vehicle fitted with a retractable undercarriage assembly comprising a twin wheeled nosewheel unit and single wheeled main units.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gRt-aILospY]

The Star Shadow will also feature a ventral payload bay that measures 2.5 m long, 0.76 m wide, and 0.7 m in depth, with a payload capacity of 400 kg. An as-yet unspecified range of sensors and weapons is being firmed up, although the company declined to provide details at present.

The Star Shadow will be powered by two indigenous TWS800 small turbofan engines.