In a move seen to rival the “loyal wingman” concept of the US, China has unveiled a new unmanned aerial system (UAS) designed to operate in tandem with its advanced fighter jets.
Showcased at the recent Zhuhai air show in southern China, the Feihong FH-97A is capable of leading swarms of smaller drones or acting as a companion wingman for Beijing’s stealth fighters, such as the J-20.
It can reportedly support “confrontational, high-intensity, and long-lasting” combat, thanks to its enhanced weapons bay for both air-to-air and air-to-ground munitions.
“The FH-97A drone meets the four [major] trends in the development of weapons: it is unmanned, miniaturized, intelligent, and stealthy,” Shanghai-based military analyst Ni Lexiong told Financial Times.
In addition to serving as a drone wingman for combat aircraft, the Feihong can be catapult-launched from aircraft carriers to support maritime operations.
Despite its promising capabilities, several defense analysts believe it will take at least five years before China deploys the FH-97A at scale.
“In the future, [the FH-97A] will be extremely important. The future of war will be competition between drone and anti-drone technology,” Ni stated.
Center of Technological Race
The unveiling of the FH-97A comes as Washington accelerates its own efforts to develop a loyal wingman drone as part of the Collaborative Combat Aircraft program.
Last month, defense contractors Anduril and General Atomics completed critical design reviews for their drone concepts, bringing them closer to operational deployment.
“Both industry teammates are on the path to get to first flight in a timeline that allows us to get operational capability by the end of the decade,” Air Force Materiel Command official Timothy Helfrich noted.
China’s development of its own drone wingman would give Chinese manufacturers space to catch up with the US military, according to Peter Layton, associate fellow at the Royal United Services Institute think tank.
It would also put the two military superpowers at the “center of a technological race” for air superiority.