The Chinese company Zhongtian Feilong conducted the first flight tests of a promising unmanned aerial vehicle-a carrier of small reconnaissance drones. According to Jane's, flight tests of the new device took place on March 20, 2021 and were recognized as successful.
Today, several companies in the world are developing drones that could carry several small drones. It is believed that such devices will be able to significantly expand the area of exploration and surveillance.
The Chinese unmanned drone carrier is made according to the two-beam aircraft scheme and is capable of vertical takeoff and landing. On the beams of the device, two electric motors with supporting screws are installed, and in the tail part between the beams there is an electric motor with a pushing propeller.
Technical details about the unmanned carrier are not disclosed. In the lower part of the device there is a container in which several small reconnaissance drones are installed.
According to Zhongtian Feilong, a promising device with small drones can be used not only for reconnaissance, but also for electronic warfare. Instead of small drones, small barrage munitions can be installed in the carrier's container to strike ground targets.
Earlier, the American companies General Atomics, Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman were engaged in the design of an unmanned carrier of air-to-air missiles LongShot. The project involves the creation of an unmanned vehicle that could be launched from fighter jets.
It is assumed that the LongShot device will be placed on the external suspension of fighters or in the internal armament compartments of bombers. When an aerial target is detected, the drone will be launched. When approaching it, the device, in turn, will launch missiles.
Vasily Sychev
