In a recent study, China has made a bold claim: their latest stealth drone technology is leaving U.S. efforts in the dust, offering three times the flight endurance while using only half the energy. According to the South China Morning Post, this development puts China at the cutting edge of stealth drone design, outpacing initiatives by the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA).
China’s new approach is quite fascinating. They’ve moved away from the traditional flaps and tail fins that you’d expect on an aircraft. Instead, they’re using fluidic systems for steering, which rely on precise air pulses. This innovation not only enhances stealth but also improves fuel efficiency. The Pentagon has been eyeing this technology too, but DARPA only started exploring it with their X-65 program in 2023.
Despite DARPA’s reputation for groundbreaking defense technology, it seems they’re playing catch-up with China in developing these fluidic systems, known as CRANE (Control of Revolutionary Aircraft with Novel Effectors). Professor Luo Zhenbing from China’s National University of Defence Technology has highlighted in his recent paper that China began testing their CRANE aircraft back in 2021, which is well ahead of the U.S.’s conceptual designs.
Luo’s research, published in Acta Aeronautica et Astronautica Sinica, not only points out China’s lead in timing but also suggests that their technology is more energy-efficient and versatile. While DARPA’s X-65 is still in the early stages, making direct comparisons a bit tricky, China’s dual synthetic jet (DSJ) technology is already making waves.
DSJ technology is pretty innovative. It creates air pulses using vibrating ceramic plates in the wing compartments, unlike DARPA’s single-chamber systems, which are more prone to failure. This dual-chamber design helps reduce stress and potential breakdowns. Interestingly, it also opens up possibilities for drones that can transition from underwater to aerial operations.
Luo’s findings suggest that DSJ units last three times longer than their American counterparts while using significantly less energy. China’s DSJ-controlled drones first took flight in 2021, and by 2023, they had advanced to flying-wing models. Meanwhile, DARPA’s X-65 is still in the concept phase, with no flight tests yet. The U.S. is planning to roll out its ‘big-tail’ drone to test fluidic controls for the Next-Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) fighter later this year.
