National heavy equipment, cutting-edge equipment... What are the highlights of this air show?
The Paper Journalist Xie Ruiqiang and Wang Lunyu
The 13th China International Aerospace Expo (the "Zhuhai Air Show") will officially kick off today.
As the world's top five professional international aerospace exhibitions, every Zhuhai Airshow will become a hot spot for public attention and discussion.
So, what are the highlights of this Zhuhai Airshow?
Which mysterious weapons will lift the veil?
The Strike-11 drone made its debut at the Zhuhai Air Show.
The pictures in this article are all taken by The Paper journalist Xie Ruiqiang
F-16D electronic warfare aircraft debut
The J-16D electronic warfare aircraft will make its debut at the China Air Show. This type of fighter is a new type of electronic warfare aircraft independently developed on the J-16 platform. It has the integrated combat capability of "reconnaissance, offense and defense".
Air Force spokesperson Shen Jinke previously stated that the J-16D has been put into actual combat training, which has further improved the Air Force’s electronic offensive capabilities and supported the expansion of the Air Force’s operational range and the construction of the Air Force’s strategic transformation.
With the continuous development of informatization, the importance of electronic warfare and network warfare in modern warfare has become more and more prominent.
The U.S. military believes that electronic warfare is a basic component of air-to-ground integrated operations. The U.S. "Outline of Operations" also lists electronic warfare methods, firepower, and the use of mobility as factors that determine the battle situation.
General Delgu, NATO’s Electronic Warfare Research Committee, pointed out that “the role of electrons has surpassed firepower.”
From the appearance point of view, the J-16D electronic warfare aircraft displayed this time has a total of 4 large pods mounted under the air inlet and wings, and the two wing tips are also mounted with small pods. Compared with fighter jets, there is no photoelectric detection system above the nose of the J-16D electronic warfare.
F-16D electronic warfare aircraft.
Air Force expert Fu Qianshao told The Paper (www.thepaper.cn) that the J-16D is a tactical electronic warfare aircraft with good maneuverability. The electronic warfare equipment it carries can perform "soft kills" on enemy radars, radio communications and other electronic equipment. "If you add anti-radiation missiles, you can also "hard kill" the enemy's electronic equipment, and can provide accompanying escorts for other types of formations.
"There are only a handful of countries equipped with this kind of high-maneuverability and long-range special tactical electronic warfare aircraft. Its deployment will further enhance the air force's electronic warfare capabilities, which is of extraordinary significance." Fu Qianshao pointed out.
J-20, Yun-20, Zhi-20 on the same stage for the first time
On the large rotating booth in the center of the Aviation Industry Exhibition Hall, large-scale models of the J-20, Y-20, Zhi-20 and Attack-11 are eye-catching. They are the representative models of the "20 Era". -20, Yun-20 and Zhi-20 made their debut on the same stage.
The Aviation Industry Exhibition Hall is located in Hall 1, with an exhibition area of 6,500 square meters. It is the largest in-house exhibition area of the current air show.
As the first fourth-generation fighter to be installed in my country, the J-20 stealth fighter is the focus of public attention.
Although the J-20 has been unveiled at the Zhuhai Air Show in 2016 and 2018, and performed flight demonstrations, the aircraft is still the most watched "star" model at the air show.
At this Zhuhai Air Show, the J-20 will continue to bring wonderful flight performances to the audience.
The Paper noted that the appearance of the engine tail nozzle of the J-20 model displayed in the exhibition hall is different from the previous public J-20, using a saw-toothed tail nozzle.
The J-20, Yun-20, and Zhi-20 made their debut on the same stage.
Fu Qianshao analyzed that with the maturity of the domestic high-thrust engine, the J-20 will also be replaced with a domestic engine. The serrated tail nozzle can further enhance the stealth performance of the J-20 tail part, thereby enhancing the overall stealth capability of the J-20 .
Y-20 has also been a frequent visitor to the Zhuhai Air Show in recent years. In recent years, Y-20 has performed well in anti-epidemic battles, overseas exercises, and domestic exercises, reflecting the Air Force’s strategic transportation capabilities.
Military expert Han Dong pointed out that as an essential product of the strategic air force, the continuous increase in the number of Y-20 and the improvement of practical training capabilities have laid the foundation for the air force to enter the threshold of the strategic air force.
Zhi-20 made its debut in the National Day parade in 2019 and became a highlight of the air echelon.
According to the official introduction, the Zhi-20 tactical general-purpose helicopter is a medium-sized dual-engine multi-purpose helicopter independently developed by my country. It applies new technologies such as fly-by-wire flight control, rotor anti-icing/deicing, and can carry out aircraft landing under complex weather conditions day and night. Diversified tasks such as transportation, with full-time dispatch capabilities across the region.
The J-20, Y-20, and Zhi-20 represent the latest achievements of the aviation industry. The appearance of the three "20s" on the same stage shows that China's aviation industry is developing faster and faster and its strength is further improved.
Straight-20 helicopter.
Unmanned equipment on the sky and on the ground complement each other
In addition to multi-type UAVs, a variety of ground-based unmanned combat vehicles were also exhibited at this year's air show.
Among the numerous UAVs exhibited, the Attack-11, Wudi-7, Wudi-8, Feihong-97 and Rainbow-6 made their debut.
The Attack-11 drone was made public for the first time in the National Day parade in 2019. The aircraft adopts a flying-wing layout and has excellent stealth capabilities.
At the air show, the Attack-11 showed its bomb bays to the outside world for the first time. From the model, the aircraft has two buried bomb bays, and the bomb bays can carry 4 small guided bombs.
The Non-Reconnaissance-7 UAV is a high-altitude unmanned reconnaissance aircraft developed and produced by my country. It mainly performs border reconnaissance and territorial water patrols.
The Non-Reconnaissance-7 unmanned reconnaissance aircraft is called the Chinese version of the "Global Hawk". Strategic eye.
No detection-7 has long-endurance reconnaissance capabilities.
Non-Reconnaissance-8 is a high-altitude high-speed UAV that can effectively penetrate the enemy's tightly protected strategic and operational targets. It uses equipped reconnaissance mission equipment to obtain high-resolution target images, and provides reconnaissance and surveillance for combat forces at all levels. Combat effectiveness evaluation intelligence.
"These three UAVs have already been installed or will be installed in the army, with different performance and different purposes, but they all help to further enhance the combat capability of the Air Force." Han Dong said.
Rainbow-6 UAV is a large-scale, high-altitude, high-speed, long-endurance, and multi-purpose UAV.
Shi Wen, chief engineer of the Rainbow UAV of the 11th Academy of Aerospace Engineering, said that the Rainbow-6's ability to conduct high-altitude reconnaissance and strike, maritime anti-submarine and patrol alert, long-range early warning detection, close air support and other combat missions marked the type spectrum of Rainbow UAV. Advance in the high-altitude and high-speed field to further meet the needs of various future combat styles.
Feihong-97 is a new generation of high-speed stealth multi-purpose UAV system developed by the Ninth Aerospace Academy.
The Paper learned from the Ninth Aerospace Academy that at this airshow, the Ninth Aerospace Academy will release the "Feihong" UAV brand to the public for the first time, a panoramic display of the "Feihong" UAV series with complete spectrum planning and highly autonomous systems. product.
The large-scale appearance of unmanned combat vehicles is a major highlight of the air show's land weapons.
The Paper noted at the scene that the unmanned combat vehicles exhibited this time include large unmanned combat vehicles with a length of about three or four meters and equipped with machine guns and anti-tank missiles, as well as small unmanned combat vehicles with a length of less than 1 meter and equipped with machine guns. Human chariots have both wheeled and tracked maneuvers.
Unmanned combat vehicles have become a new type of ground combat weapon developed by various military powers or major countries, and some unmanned combat vehicles have been used on the battlefield.
At this air show, a number of military industry companies displayed more than ten unmanned combat vehicles, demonstrating that my country has achieved fruitful results in this field.
Unmanned combat vehicle.
Spacecraft, rockets, missiles... there are many highlights in space
Manned spaceflight, lunar exploration, Mars exploration, Beidou navigation...In recent years, my country's spaceflight events have witnessed a series of success stories.
The Paper learned from China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation that at this air show, China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation selected more than 170 aerospace science and technology achievements in combination with recent aerospace engineering mission hot spots and follow-up development plans, through physical objects, models, sand tables, and multimedia presentations. To meet with the public in various forms, exhibits are distributed in the three major exhibition areas of aerospace, defense, and aerospace technology applications, displaying the vivid practice of the Aerospace Science and Technology Group in exploring the vast universe, developing aerospace industry, and building a space power in an all-round, multi-angle and three-dimensional manner.
The "Stars Gathering" in the aerospace exhibition area, the "protagonists" participating in my country's manned spaceflight, Mars exploration, lunar exploration project, Beidou navigation system and other major national engineering missions, collectively unveiled, the new generation of manned spacecraft test ship return module physical objects, Chang'e-5 exploration The spacecraft model and the Tianwen-1 Mars probe model will be the "stars" of the aerospace exhibition hall.
The return cabin of a new generation of manned spacecraft test ship.
At this air show, 10 models of launch vehicles including a new generation of manned launch vehicles and heavy launch vehicles were all on the battlefield, and the "family" of Long March rockets, which is about to usher in 400 launches, made a shocking appearance.
In addition, the "Jielong" series of solid launch vehicles for the commercial aerospace market, communications, navigation, high score and remote sensing satellites, and China's first solar exploration satellite planned to be launched this year will also be exhibited.
Aerospace Science and Technology Group exhibited a number of new and family-oriented military trade products in the defense exhibition area, including M20A/B surface-to-surface missile weapon system, LY-70 air defense missile weapon system, rocket launchers, etc.
China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation also brought a variety of heavy equipment at this air show. The Hongqi-17AE, Hongqi-9BE, Yingzhe-18E, Yingzhike-12E, CM-103 and other missiles were all unveiled for the first time.
The personnel on the scene told The Paper that many of these missiles are export models of China's active equipment, and their performance has reached the world's advanced level.
In the area of aerospace, Aerospace Science and Industry displayed the Kuaizhou 11 and Kuaizhou 1A solid launch vehicles once again, and the aerospace vehicles of the Tengyun Project.
Just one day before the opening of the aviation exhibition, on September 27, the Kuaizhou-1A solid carrier rocket ignited and lifted off at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, sending the Jilin-1 High Score 02D satellite into the scheduled orbit. The launch mission was a complete success.
There are a lot of colorful eggs in the air show
Air show has always been the highlight of the air show.
The Air Force "August 1st" Air Demonstration Team and the Air Force Aviation University "Red Eagle" will perform air demonstrations at the Zhuhai Air Show.
In addition, a number of military and civil aircraft will also perform flight demonstrations, and the flight demonstration section will also design drone performances.
"August 1st" is the "big brother" in my country's air show team, which was established on January 25, 1962.
The selection of the Bayi Aerobatic Team is very strict, and only the outstanding air force pilots can be selected.
The "August 1st" air show team has many performances, such as 4-plane rhombus, 4-plane arrow, 4-plane wedge, 6-plane wedge, 8-plane triangle, 8-plane wedge, etc. It is especially famous for its spectacular 9-plane formation performances. , The size of the formation is largely at the world-class level.
In this air show, the "August 1st" aerobatic team will send six "J-10" fighters to perform in formation, single-plane and dual-plane performances.
This is also the sixth time that the "August 1st" performance queue has participated in the Zhuhai Air Show since the "J-10".
The Bayi team also sent two female pilots to participate in the Zhuhai Air Show performance.
According to the arrangement, the "August 1st" aerobatic team will take the lead in the "opening show" of the air show.
The "Red Eagle" performance team of the Air Force Aviation University is a very young "academic" aerobatic team. It was established in August 2011. In September of that year, it was on the same stage with the 50-year-old brother "August 1st" aerobatic team. Dedicated skills.
The "Red Eagle" uses my country's domestically produced "K-8" advanced trainer, which is a new generation of jet trainer independently developed by my country, and its performance is among the best in the world.
In November 2018, "Red Eagle" debuted at the Zhuhai Air Show.
At that time, the participating players made the signature action "Eight Machines Somersault" and the characteristic action "Seven Machines Blossom".
"Red Eagle" also participated in the Tiananmen Square parade on the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.
On October 1, 2019, members of the "Red Eagle" flew seven K-8 trainers over Tiananmen Square.
The "Red Eagle" aerobatic team currently has 18 members, including three special-class pilots and 15 first-class pilots.
The J-20 performed flight demonstrations at the 2016 and 2018 airshows, which made the audience hooked.
In the past few days, the J-20 has also conducted flight training over the air show. How is the appearance of the J-20 for this flight show different from before?
What flight maneuvers will the J-20 perform?
Both are worthy of attention.
In previous airshows, drones will be the focus.
There are also many types of drones participating in the air show at this air show, including Pterosaur-2, Double-tailed Scorpion A and Rainbow-4.
This is also the first time in the history of the Zhuhai Air Show that a drone has performed a flight show, which is worth looking forward to.
It is worth mentioning that the AG600 large-scale amphibious aircraft will be shown for the first time in flight, and will be staged in the air.
It is understood that on the morning of the opening ceremony (28th), the large-scale firefighting/water rescue amphibious aircraft "Kunlong" AG600 independently developed by my country will perform about 12 minutes of flight performance.
Zhou Guoqiang, assistant to the general manager of Aviation Industry Corporation of China and director of the Party Building and Propaganda Department, revealed that the AG600 will demonstrate the function of flying water. "At that time, 9 tons of water will fall from the sky, which is very shocking!"