Is China's H-20 a large-scale unmanned strategic bomber? Recently, the U.S. media has exposed China's flying-wing stealth drone, which is even larger than the B-21, with a wingspan of an astonishing 42 meters and a length of 22 meters. The B-21 has a wingspan of about 45 meters, but its length is only 16.46 meters.

With such a size, this large-scale drone can carry one large and two small weapon bays, just like the B-21. The internal large weapon bay can carry the YJ-17 hypersonic anti-ship missile. Moreover, as it does not require a crew, its range can exceed that of the B-21, breaking through 10,000 kilometers, thus achieving global strike capability.

Flying-wing stealth drones have always been the focus of research for many countries. This is because the tailless flying-wing layout eliminates radar domes, intake ducts, vertical tails, the angle between the vertical tail and horizontal tail, and external stores that are exposed in conventional layouts, eliminating parts that contribute to radar cross-section. Therefore, the stealth performance is greatly improved. It also uses composite materials, radar-absorbing materials, low-noise engines, infrared suppression, surface fine gaps, charged surface coatings, and plasma stealth technology, making it good at concealment, rapid penetration, and proactive engagement with the enemy.

In short, the flying-wing stealth drone achieves optimal aerodynamic design, ideal stealth method, simplified overall design, and lightweight structure. The entire drone becomes a lifting body, with no distinction between the wing and the fuselage, and they are smoothly connected without interference drag, thus reducing induced drag. This is beneficial for improving flight performance and meeting tactical and technical requirements.

The United States, France, the United Kingdom, Russia, and other countries have proposed flying-wing stealth drones. All countries have vowed to deploy flying-wing stealth drones in the second decade of the 21st century, but all have failed. For example, the U.S. X-47B drone was not a very typical flying-wing stealth drone. It first flew in 2011 and completed carrier landing tests in 2013, but did not enter mass service. The U.S. Navy eventually adjusted its development direction, converting it from an attack drone to a reconnaissance/refueling platform, replaced by the MQ-25 "Stingray" drone.

The reason for this is that flying-wing stealth drones have extremely high technical barriers, especially the flight control system. The flying-wing layout cancels the traditional tail (horizontal and vertical stabilizers), which brings excellent stealth performance and lift-to-drag ratio, but also completely changes the aircraft's aerodynamic characteristics. Traditional layout aircraft have natural longitudinal and lateral stability, while flying-wing is an inherently unstable aerodynamic form. Its pitch, yaw, and roll control depends entirely on complex micro-adjustments and coordination of multiple control surfaces such as split flaps and spoilers. This imposes extremely strict requirements on the flight control software algorithm, requiring hundreds of calculations per second to adjust all control surfaces to maintain flight attitude. Any minor delay or logical error could lead to catastrophic loss of control.

The B-21, being piloted, does not require such high flight control systems, while drones must achieve maneuverable flight on their own, making the difficulty different.

What else is beyond the understanding of the West? That is China's flying-wing stealth drone. The biggest feature is its size. You can see the publicly available Rainbow-7, with a wingspan of 27 meters and a length of 10 meters. We can compare it with the U.S. XQ-47B, which has a wingspan of only 18.92 meters.

The Rainbow-7 has already been praised by the West as the "unmanned version of the B-21," because the Rainbow-7 has a range of 10,000 kilometers, a flight altitude of up to 16,000 meters, and a payload capacity of 2 tons.

The ultra-large stealth flying-wing drone exposed by the U.S. media is even bigger. Fundamentally speaking, the larger the size of the drone is not simply a proportional enlargement, but a systematic problem involving aerodynamics, structure, control, materials, power, and cost. The increase in size triggers a "chain reaction" in almost all technological fields, making the development extremely difficult.

However, the benefits of success are amazing. The total mass of the flying-wing drone is basically consistent with the aerodynamic load distribution, allowing various onboard equipment to be more reasonably distributed along the wingspan. The integrated design of the wing-body fusion body allows for a greater height and chord length at the wing root, providing the maximum possible internal space. With proper arrangement, more onboard equipment can be installed, offering larger power compartments, fuel tanks, and internal weapon bays.

Moreover, since it does not require a crew or cockpit, its payload capacity can far exceed that of the B-21, possibly even surpassing that of the U.S. B-52. In short, it is a perfect intercontinental strike platform.

If the ultra-large flying-wing stealth drone is the H-20, the advantages it brings are obvious. It eliminates the need for crew physiological limitations, allowing for extended flights lasting dozens of hours or even longer, providing unprecedented strategic endurance and global reach. Furthermore, since it does not require a cockpit, it can achieve extreme stealth. Through the three characteristics of stealth, unmanned operation, and long endurance, it provides unparalleled penetration capability and mission flexibility.

Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7552800607791366675/

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