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Science/Tech See other Science/Tech Articles Title: Four ways China can counter US X-47B UCAV: Sina Military Want... China has four ways to counter the United States Navy's US Navy's X-47B unmanned combat air vehicle (UCAV), says the Beijing-based Sina Military Network. Developed by Northrop Grumman, the X-47B is said to provide the US with a major advantage over that offered by traditional fighter jets. The UCAV conducted its maiden flight in 2011 before completing ground tests and commencing test flights in 2013. In-flight refueling tests began at the start of this year. Even when taking mid-air refueling in account, fighter jets only have a range of about 1,500 nautical miles but their combat range is actually much lower as pilot fatigue needs to be factored in, restricting missions to a maximum of around 10 hours. The X-47B, on the other hand, has a range of 3,000 nautical miles, greater than that of the F/A-18 and F-35C fighter jets. UCAVs also don't need to worry about pilot fatigue as operators work in shifts and are easily substituted, meaning mission lengths can be extended to up to 50 hours. By comparison, fighter jets need to return to base, undergo maintenance and change pilots before they can take off again. UCAVs can also carry a wide range of ammunition, including the MK-84, GBU-31, BLU-109, MK-83, MK-82, GBU-32, GBU-103, GBU-104, GBU-105, AGM-114, AGM-65E, CBU-99, GBU-12, MK-82, MK-46/50/54, and so forth, making them extremely versatile and capable of carrying out missions over both sea and land as well as engaging in aerial combat. Importantly, the X-47B would allow US aircraft carriers to maintain a distance of more than 500 nautical miles off the coast of mainland China in an assault on Chinese territory. According to Sina Military, China has three options to counter the X-47B. The first is to deploy the DF-21D ballistic missile to attack the UCAV from distance. The second, though less likely option, is to attack it with the H-6K strategic bomber, though such a strategy could face intercepts from US fighters. The third option is to use attack nuclear submarines to sneak up on US aircraft carriers, though this would require a great deal of intelligence to ensure correct positioning. A fourth alternative is for China to develop sufficient deterrent capabilities to prevent the US from deploying the X-47B in the first place. However, China cannot simply rely on its nuclear threat as a deterrent, the report said, adding that the People's Liberation Army will need to develop more flexible options such as building its own UCAV Post Comment Private Reply Ignore Thread
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