Divine Eagle
This large high-altitude long-endurance (HALE) UAV has been under
development at 601 Institute/SAC as an "anti-stealth" AEW platform.
The
UAV features a novel twin fuselage/twin vertical tailfin design with the
straight main wing extending across the rear fuselage. It also has a
small wing structure connecting the forward sections of twin fuselages. A
SATCOM antenna is expected to be installed inside one of the head
bulges.
The UAV is thought to be powered by a turbofan engine (WS-11?)
located above the main wing and between the two vertical tainfins. As an
AEW platform Divine Eagle is expected to have multiple conformal radar
antennas installed on the forward fuselages facing different directions.
The VHF meter wave radar is capable of detecting stealth aircraft at a
relatively long range but suffers from a lower accuracy. Therefore
several Divine Eagles may typically fly in a group formation ahead while
bei
ng controlled via datalink by the AWACS flying behind in a safe
distance or by the ground station protected by the air defense unit.
Together they act as an airborne multistatic radar system and are able
to pick up the radar reflection signals of the same stealth aircraft
from multiple directions.
As the result the UAV can extend both the
detecting range and accuracy of the AWACS against stealth aircraft. The
design of Divine Eagle appear to share some similarity with the Russian
Sukhoi S-62 concept which first appeared around 2000. It was reported
that Russian assistance was sought during the initial development stage.
A technology demonstrator was built by the spring 2015. Some
specifications (estimated): height 6m, length 14m, wingspan 35m,
endurance >10hr, ceiling 18km.
If successfully entering the service,
Divine Eagle would become the first airborne anti-stealth radar system
in the world and could be used to counter American F-22s, F-35s and
B-2s.
Divine Eagle. Enormous Stealth Hunting Drone, Takes Shape
By
Jeffrey Lin and P.W. Singer
| Popular Science
While the Divine Eagle reportedly first flew in February 2015, filtered
photos of the UAV have only now emerged on the Chinese Internet
(filtering photos to blur visual details is one way Chinese Internet
denizens avoid censorship). The timing is notable. Coming shorty after
the release of the first Chinese defense White Paper calling for Chinese
military expeditionary capabilities and high profile Sino-Russian naval
exercises, the Divine Eagle is a visual announcement that China's
building unique technologies that could change the brewing arms race in
the Asia Pacific.
The details on the photo confirm that the Divine Eagle is a single
engine, twin bodied aircraft with two large vertical stabilizers
(tails). Compared to the initial concept art and drawings available in
February, the latest Divine Eagle iteration is less stealthy, having two
satellite communications domes, completely vertical tails and an
exposed engine intake. Determining the Divine Eagle's size is
difficult, but assuming that the fuselage has a diameter of 1.2-1.5
meters (large enough to accommodate stealth detecting X-band radars),
the photo suggests a fuselage height to length ratio of 1:12, giving a
probable length of 14.4 meters to 18 meters. Gauging the wingspan is
more difficult, but it may likely be 40-50 meters in width.
The Divine Eagle is planned to carry multiple Active Electronically
Scanned Array (AESA) radars, of the AMTI, SAR and GMTI varities.
Airborne Moving Target Indicator (AMTI) radar types are used to track
airborne targets, like enemy fighters and cruise missiles. Synthetic
Aperture Radar (SAR) provides high resolution of slow moving ground
vehicles and enemy bases. Ground Moving Target Indicator (GMTI) radars
are ideal for identifying and tracking ships, such as aircraft carriers.
X/UHF band radars, which include the "F-22 killer" JY-26 that debuted
at Zhuhai 2014, have raised concerns in the American military that they
could track stealth aircraft like the F-35 fighter and B-2 bomber at
long ranges.
As a High Altitude, Long Endurance (HALE) UAV, the Divine Eagle would
prove incredibly useful in both offensive and defensive operations. Its
long range anti-stealth capabilities can be used against both aircraft,
like the B-2 bomber, and warships such as the DDG-1000 destroyer.
Using the Divine Eagle as a picket, the Chinese air force could quickly
intercept stealthy enemy aircraft, missiles and ships well before they
come in range of the Mainland. Flying high, the Divine Eagle could also
detect anti-ship missile trucks and air defenses on land, in
preparation for offensive Chinese action.
The Divine Eagle is part of a larger Chinese trend in building
high technology, unique systems that respond to US plans for Air Sea
Battle and "Offsets. They extend the reach of the PLA and meet the needs
of the PLA to both break through the anti-access response plans of
opponents, while also defending against hostile power projection. As a
recent article by one of our team notes, as these capabilities become
real, they could undercut key assumptions behind the entire US strategy
of deference in the Pacific