According to the South China Morning Post (SCMP), Chinese scientists have created a new kind of war drone that can quickly multiply in midair, creating a military shock and awe against possible adversaries like the US.
According to the war needs, the new helicopter is comparable to a consumer-grade Foreign DJI multirotor, which can be divided into two, three, or even six smaller robots.
Although each drone only has one blade, it can communicate with other drones and hover around easily like a normal drone. Each is also play a particular function such as control, surveillance, monitoring and even attack while collaborating to complete a mission.
SCMP points out that the development of this technology has been delayed because combined standard drones ‘ flight efficiency has been substantially decreased.
However, a study group led by Professor Shi Zhiwei from Nanjing University’s School of Aeronautics and Astronautics states to have succeeded in this area, according to a peer-reviewed article that was published last month in the book Acta Aeronautica et Astronautica Sinica.
Shi’s group claimed that the drone combination had a flight efficiency that was almost half as good as a multirotor drone. The group claims that even after isolation, their flight performance remained more than 40 % higher than conventional small drones, which is the first time it has been demonstrated that combined robots could outperform single robots in any trip state.
SCMP points out that China’s one- edge aircraft, which can be launched by hands like throwing a boomerang and taking off vertically from the ground, resembles Lockheed Martin’s” Samarai” device, which can linger in midair and land in a particular area.
But, SCMP says that Lockheed Martin’s aircraft is constrained by its strength, cargo capacity and limited independence. The cause adds that these drones could be flown off large plane without being shot down, even though the US intended to use them.
Additionally, it claims that comparable models have been created by other European groups, but they have not yet had widespread, practical applications.
In contrast, China is the country’s main player in the world of human drone manufacturing, which means that prototype technology like the one-bladed drone can rapidly develop. The top five companies of human drones, according to Drone DJ, are Foreign companies, with Shenzhen-based DJI being the largest in the world.
Many factors contribute to China’s leading edge in aircraft growth. Harrison Wolf notes in a September 2018 World Economic Forum content that DJI innovates more rapidly than any other aircraft manufacturer and integrates their rival’s capabilities rapidly, while also developing the capabilities needed for safe journey more swiftly than most, enabling better flying data acquisition, video sharing, and user experience.
Wolf also makes the point that, thanks to its top-down leadership and economy, the Chinese government’s ability to invest heavily in technology and aerospace may be its greatest asset. Additionally, China’s civil-military fusion strategy enables rapid repurposing of advances in civilian dual-use technology for military applications.
These new drones can be stuffed into a cluster warhead on a missile if successfully weaponized, becoming intelligent bomblets capable of searching and killing targets autonomously. A similar strategy would combine the precision and autonomy of first-person view ( FPV ) drones, which were frequently used by both sides in the Ukraine war, with cruise and ballistic missiles ‘ extended range.
The Army Tactical Missile System ( ATACMS ) or Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System ( GMLRS ) smart munition was announced as part of the US Department of Defense’s ( DOD ) solicitation in January 2017. According to the solicitation, the intention is to create a missile-deployable, long-range UAS swarm to deliver small explosively-formed penetrators ( EFP ) to various targets.
A missile-launched payload from multiple quadcopters would be desired by the US Army, with the missile releasing its payload in flight. The drones would then decelerate to a velocity suitable for unfolding, identify potential targets, maneuver to the targets and detonate.
Potential targets mentioned in the DOD solicitation include tanks, large- caliber artillery pieces, fuel storage barrels, vehicle roofs and ammo storage sites.
A few missiles armed with these warheads could theoretically destroy an entire armored division, which raises the question of whether tanks are in the new age of drone warfare.
These UAS can also be mini- aerial mines, similar to larger loitering munitions. Miniature drones could be launched into a setting where they can patrol and react to particular stimuli detected by onboard sensors. However, their relatively short flight range most likely limits how useful they are in combat.
Cluster drones could also be used for small-scale special operations, acting as a force multiplier for special forces teams by creating drone swarms at the tactical level.
China’s plans to transform its military operations, according to a report from Asia Times in February 2024, include a potential US-led conflict over Taiwan and a strategic shift to drone-led special operations.
When a small-scale conflict breaks out between China and an unnamed neighboring country where both sides agree to restrict their access to small arms, including boats, drones, and anti-aircraft guns, the People’s Liberation Army’s ( PLA ) scenario was set for 2035.
Under the scenario, the PLA must strike swiftly and silently behind enemy lines, hitting critical command, control and supply hubs. Additionally, the plan specifies that drones designed for such an operation should be able to fly in swarms, engage in aerial combat beyond visual range, and fight enemy forces alone.
China is a leader in drone technology, but it faces significant obstacles to creating drone swarms. In a study conducted in October 2023 by the China Aerospace Studies Institute, Emilie Stewart points out that managing the relationship between UAV computing power and the size of the payload in relation to the duration of the mission is key to overcome. A higher level of computing power may result in longer missions, as the latter may result in shorter missions.
Stewart mentions that balancing the speed of large central ground stations with timely data processing is a challenge in processing the enormous amount of data collected by UAV sensors. As more swarm sizes grow, spectrum congestion becomes apparent, posing a risk to effective operation because each UAV competes for the same amount of bandwidth and signals.
According to Stewart, limited sensor perception and dynamic operating areas can make it difficult and time to fly over complex and variable environments, such as urban or mountainous terrains.
Stewart raises the possibility that a single UAV failure could cause the collapse of the entire mission, underscoring the importance of robust design, and how the expansion of UAV swarm size and range can cause significant communication delays.