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Shenyang (AVIC) Divine Eagle

2020 MODERN AIRCRAFT DRONE TECHNOLOGY FUTURE FLIGHT

History

Shenyang Shenying and Chengdu Soaring Dragon (described in more detail elsewhere on this page) as two possible High Altitude, Long Endurance (HALE) Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) to meet ongoing demand Chinese military. The Condor, Northrop Grumman's Global Eagle-class super-large drone, is currently believed to be in the prototype stage, according to Chinese internet photos and captured satellite imagery -- its top-down outline is shown in on the airstrip.

Engineers took an unconventional approach when designing the Condor. It adopts a dual-body configuration, connected by a small mainframe in the front and a longer-span mainframe in the rear. This creates a pseudo "two-armed" layout and canard shape. The main wing is located aft of the midship, extending outward from the ends of the two fuselage nacelles. Two tall vertical fins complete the tail.

The front main plane is more restrained, located between the two fuselage noses and does not extend beyond the cabin. The single turbojet engine that powered the aircraft was located between the two vertical fins in the tail and on top of the connecting horizontal section of the rear main aircraft. A tricycle chassis with wheels is used for ground driving. The nose section is believed to house a radome and a mission suite consisting of sensors.

Back blisters on tree trunks may harbor satellite communication devices or similar seizures.

Unique design path designed to reduce wing weight while maintaining desired altitude performance. The piece ends up looking like two linked drones from General Atomics' Reaper.

The main concern of the US and China's regional neighbors is that the Condor (and Tamron) will one day be developed to support China's anti-ship missiles - for these Americans this poses a direct threat to their warships, Especially their aircraft carriers. China's military development and ambitions are also seen as a general threat to the region, as it claims land areas in the South China Sea and associated airspace.

Not yet clear about the condor's maiden flight (2015). Industry analysts see its role on the battlefield as airborne early warning (AEW), an area the Chinese military needs.