Due to the low level of radar visibility (RSC of about 0.009 sq.m.), the GJ-11 Sharp Sword attack UAV is designed for:
- conducting reconnaissance and monitoring of the battlefield /the results of the use of heavy weapons (inside the hull, an optoelectronic reconnaissance system is located in the bow);
- the breakthrough of the air defense lines with the subsequent destruction of anti-aircraft missile systems;
- massive strikes against ground and surface targets;
- interception of air targets.
The unobtrusive reconnaissance and strike UAV GJ-11 on parade
According to Chinese experts, the GJ-11 unmanned aerial vehicles should operate in a group of 4 aircraft, one of which conducts reconnaissance, and three strike at identified targets.
Experts in the field of tactics of aircraft carrier strike groups of the PLA Navy expect that after the appearance of the GJ-11 deck modification, each aircraft carrier will receive a group of 4 vehicles that will be able to perform reconnaissance tasks in cooperation with long-range radar surveillance and guidance deck aircraft.
The Chinese military hopes to use the GJ-11 to strengthen the reconnaissance capabilities of both carrier strike groups and the entire naval aviation of the PLA Navy, since such groups of UAVs will allow to control most of the waters of the South China or East China Seas ( additionally on the topic ).
The scheme of using the GJ-11 UAV as a scout
According to available information, as part of the work on the prototype of the strike UAV under the designation "Sharp Sword", the designers used the Russian RD-93 engine, which they regularly receive for the assembly of JF-17 fighters. However, due to the requirements of the PLA Air Force Command to reduce dependence on the supply of imported components, it was decided to use a copy of this engine under the designation WS-13E. It is reliably known that the engine installed on the GJ-11 has a reduced length due to the absence of an afterburner. The maximum speed is 0.9 MACH.
This solution made it possible to place the engine in a compact fuselage, and thanks to a decrease in the gas temperature in the turbine, Chinese specialists were able to hide the engine nozzle. There are 6 through holes in the part of the body adjacent to the nozzle, which take air from the outer plane of the airframe and reduce thermal visibility.
The length of the take-off run of the device is 700 m, the length of the run at landing is 650 m. The empty weight is 6300 kg. The maximum take-off weight is 12,500 kg. The maximum flight range is 4000 km. The total duration of the flight is 6 hours. The combat radius is 1600 km. The time spent in the combat zone is no more than 2 hours. The practical ceiling for the GJ-11 is 12,000 m.
The armament of this UAV is placed only in two internal missile and bomb compartments, which allow to accommodate aircraft weapons with a total weight of up to 2000 kg. It is known that the attachment points of weapons are designed to hold an object weighing up to 1000 kg, i.e. Chinese specialists have provided a two-fold margin of structural strength.
With regard to the range of ammunition, it is known that this attack UAV can be armed with 4 air-to-air guided missiles of the PL-15 model, which will allow it to intercept enemy aircraft at a considerable distance.
LS-6 adjustable bomb
For strikes on ground targets, the "Sharp Sword" can be equipped with 4 feathered correctable (Beidou, GLONASS, GPS satellite signal receiver installed in the tail, infrared/laser guidance system installed in the nose) LS-6 bombs (cost 80 thousand dollars.USA) weighing 500 kg each (reset at a speed of no more than 840 km/ h), as well as adjustable (Beidou satellite signal receiver) FT-7 bombs (reset at a speed of no more than 550 km/ h) with a semi-active laser homing head (GOS).
The FT-7 adjustable bomb
In addition, this attack UAV can be armed with 12 CM-506KG small-caliber cruise gliding bombs (dropping at a speed of no more than 670 km/h) weighing 100 kg each. In the basic configuration, this munition is equipped with an inertial guidance system and a receiver of a signal from a satellite positioning system, however, if necessary, infrared/ television guidance modules or an active radar station operating in the millimeter range can be installed in the GOS of the munition.
CM-506KG Small-caliber Cruise Gliding Bomb
As part of the Zhuhai-2022 exhibition, an upgraded version of the LS-6-500 bomb (weight 500 kg) was presented, which is equipped with a compact disposable turbojet engine (mounted in the tail), which significantly increases the launch range – up to a maximum of 120 km.
A modified version of the LS-6-50 bomb
Probably, the cost has increased to 110 thousand dollars, but even so, the updated version of the LS-6-500 remains the most attractive means of destroying ground targets in comparison with the Iranian-made Shahed-136 drones (the cost of production in Iran is 50 thousand dollars), since it surpasses the latter in firepower by 10 times. The LS-6 model range has bombs weighing 50, 100, 250, 500 and 1000 kg.
According to calculations by Chinese experts in the field of Air Force tactics, it is this munition, thanks to its attractive price-quality ratio, that will become the main means of operational tactical aviation (fighters) in the fight against medium-range anti-aircraft missile systems. This conclusion was made after analyzing the losses of the assault aviation units of the Russian Aerospace Forces participating in a special military operation in Ukraine.
When dropped from an altitude of 10,000 m, the range of the LS-6 is 60-65 km, and when dropped from an altitude of 8000 m, the flight range can reach 40-48 km, the FT-7 bomb (when dropped from 10,000 m) has a flight range of 90 km, and the CM-506KG (when dropped from an altitude of 10,000 m) the range is already 130 km – this bomb was originally created for the inconspicuous J-20 fighter in order to ensure the possibility of massive precision strikes against several targets simultaneously.
To combat enemy surface ships, the UAV can be equipped with compact anti-ship missiles of the YJ-9E series. Bombing and missile launches can be carried out from altitudes up to 10,000 m.
In addition, it is known that work is currently underway to create a towed jammer, which will increase the survivability of single UAVs or a group of vehicles when performing a task in the enemy air defense zone. Analysis of the available information also suggests that at the moment the enterprises of the military-industrial complex of the People's Republic of China are not able to create equipment for pumping fuel that would allow the use of GJ-11 attack UAVs as an air tanker.
Based on the materials of Chinese military-technical publications
