Audit Expert: Dai Chen
Expert member of the Science Popularization Branch of the China Aviation Education Society
Since ancient times, dragons have been an auspicious omen in our traditions. 2024 is the traditional Chinese Year of the Dragon, and our Chinese-developed aircraft also contain many "Chinese Dragons". Let's take a look at the Chinese aircraft named after the "Dragon".
J-20 "Veyron"
Source丨People's Daily Online
The J-20, codenamed "Weilong", is a fighter with high stealth, high situational awareness, and high maneuverability. As China's most advanced fighter at present, it has always been the focus of national attention, and in 2021, the J-20 was also replaced with an engine independently developed by China and unveiled at the 13th China Airshow with a new attitude.
The biggest difference between the J-20 and other fighters is that it has high stealth, just like wearing the invisibility cloak in "Harry Potter". The aerodynamic shape design of the J-20 fighter fuselage can reduce the radar reflection cross-sectional area, and the special coating of the fuselage can also minimize the reflection of radar waves.
J-16 "Hidden Dragon"
Source丨People's Daily Online
The J-16 fighter is a twin-engine, heavy fighter improved on the basis of the J-11B, and it belongs to the improved version of the third-generation fighter according to the standard of generation, so some people call it a "three-and-a-half-generation" fighter.
Although there is a "half" word, it is definitely not a "half-hanger". The J-16's airborne avionics system and fire control system have been fully upgraded, and advanced multi-functional active phased array radar has been installed, which has significantly improved its performance in target detection and target tracking compared with traditional airborne radars.
In 2021, the J-16D electronic warfare aircraft made its debut at the China Airshow, and its wingtips are equipped with two electronic pods, which can be said to be the strongest auxiliary in combat.
J-11 "Yinglong"
Source丨See watermark
In the seventies and eighties of the last century, the mainland introduced Russian Su-27 fighters. On the basis of fully "eating and digesting", the Chinese aviation personnel have innovated and developed the J-11 fighter, a heavy, long-range, supersonic and highly maneuverable all-weather fighter. With its large payload capacity and many external hardpoints, it can undertake the important tasks of seizing air supremacy, intercepting enemy aircraft, and totaling ground/sea targets.
After years of iteration, the J-11 "Ying Long" has grown into a fierce general among Chinese fighters. Its successful development has brought about a leap forward for China from the development of second-generation aircraft to the third-generation aircraft, and indicates that the mainland has the capability to independently develop third-generation heavy fighters.
J-10 "Raptor"
Source丨People's Daily Online
The J-10, codenamed "Raptor," is the first third-generation advanced fighter in the history of aircraft development designed and developed by the mainland on its own. The position of the "Raptor" in the history of the development of mainland fighters cannot be underestimated, and its development has also created a number of firsts.
At present, China's Bayi Air Show Team is equipped with J-10-C fighters, and went to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia from February 4 to 8 to participate in the second Saudi International Defense Exhibition held from February 4 to 8 and conduct flight shows. As China's "Blue Sky Honor Guard", the wonderful performance of the Bayi Air Show Team on the international stage has demonstrated the image and demeanor of the Chinese Air Force in forging ahead and pursuing excellence.
FC-1 Thunder
In April 2015, Pakistan presented Xi Jinping with a photo of the escort of the "Thunder Dragon" fighter Source丨Aviation Industry
The FC-1 "Thunder" is an all-weather, multi-role fighter jointly invested by China and Pakistan and developed by China. In Pakistan, it also has a resounding name called "Thunderbolt". Such a small fighter plane carries the profound friendship between China and Pakistan.
The Thunder is a light fighter with excellent performance at low and medium altitudes and high subsonic speeds. The range reaches 2400km, the take-off and landing distance is short, and the stay time is long. Its ability has also been continuously improved with the progress of China's aviation industry, and has become the business card of China's aviation industry to the world.
AG600 "Kunlong"
Source丨Aviation industry
The origin of the "Kunlong" is not small, it is called the "Three Musketeers" of China's large aircraft together with the "Y-20" and "C919", and it is also the largest amphibious aircraft under development in the world. Some people may ask, why is the plane designed to be "amphibious" because it flies in the sky?
Thanks to its dolphin-like streamlined body, the V-shaped hull structure design of the lower half of the fuselage and the two pontoons under the wings, the Kunlong can better adapt to the water environment.
Not only that, but this aircraft can also well meet the urgent needs of forest fire fighting and water rescue in the mainland. The AG600 is fast, long-range, and resistant to wind and waves. Its maximum range is about 4,500 kilometers, the flight speed can reach 500km/h, which is more than 10 times that of the salvage ship, and it can rescue 50 people in distress at one time, and can resist 2m waves, and can also draw 12 tons of water in 20 seconds, and can become the main force in the national emergency rescue system in the future.
UAV - Pterodactyl
Source丨Aviation Industry Official Account
Source丨Aviation Industry Official Account
"The dragon is a symbol of the Chinese nation, good at flying and brave and fierce, in line with the characteristics of the UAV, and the wing represents strong flight ability, can stay in the air for a long time, and has a strong mission load capacity. Li Yidong, chief designer of the Pterodactyl series of UAVs, said.
China's self-developed Pterodactyl series UAVs, which can take off and land autonomously, climb and cruise, and fly around the field at low altitude, are China's self-developed medium and high-altitude, long-endurance, and multi-purpose UAV systems.
At present, the "Pterodactyl" has carried out missions in many complex environments. For example, the "Pterodactyl"-2H emergency rescue UAV has been incarnated as a base station in the air to support disaster relief work under extreme meteorological conditions, and the "Haiyan" UAV, which is improved according to the "Pterodactyl", can take off normally on typhoon days, which has made an important contribution to China's meteorological detection.
Since the first flight of "Pterodactyl" in 2007, to the current "Pterodactyl"-1, "Pterodactyl"-2, "Pterodactyl"-3, "Pterodactyl"-10 and other series are in full bloom, which is the continuous pursuit and bold breakthrough of Chinese aviation people in the development of UAV technology. In the future, the "Pterodactyl" family will definitely be more prosperous.