China's Sharp Sword UCAV makes maiden flight

Chinese jet-powered unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) prototype called the Sharp Sword (Lijian) conducted its maiden flight on 20 November, according to footage and photographs posted on Chinese military websites.

The Sharp Sword was reportedly designed by Shenyang Aircraft Company (SAC) and manufactured by Hongdu Aircraft Industries Corporation (HAIC).

According to Chinese media and military forums, the UCAV flew for about 20 minutes at HAIC's airfield in Nangchang, Jiangxi Province.

The Sharp Sword has a delta-wing configuration that is similar to the US Navy's Northrop Grumman X-47B technology demonstrator and Mikoyan's cancelled Skat UCAV. It was first seen in May 2013 conducting taxiing trials at the same HAIC airfield where the test flight took place.

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Images taken in May and a video posted in November do not clearly show what kind of payload the Sharp Sword might carry, although some Chinese analysts suggested a naval role for the UCAV.

The photographs taken in May suggest that the UCAV is powered by a single Klimov RD-93, a mature Russian design that also powers the FC-1/JF-17 Thunder fighter aircraft. While it certainly has low-observable features, it is impossible to substantiate claims that the Sharp Sword has a reduced radar cross-section without knowledge of the construction materials.

In addition, the lack of shrouding around the engine nozzle would appear to give the UCAV a significant thermal signature, compromising any low-visibility advantages that the delta-wing design provides.

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