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03:16

According to the Global Times, the US "Power" website reported on the 9th that the first batch of photos of the Model 437 stealth drone developed by the US Northrop Grumman Corporation have been released on social media. The appearance characteristics of this unmanned combat aircraft are almost the same as those announced earlier by Northrop Grumman, but the real aircraft that appeared for the first time has a cockpit, which is quite puzzling to the outside world.

But the "Power" website reported that Northrop Grumman's practice of equipping drones with cockpits may give the company a unique advantage in the fierce competition to provide hundreds or even thousands of highly autonomous drones for the US Air Force and Navy.

This small-looking aircraft can reportedly carry 4,000 pounds of fuel and can fly continuously for 3,000 nautical miles at a cruising speed of Mach 0.8. The internal bomb bay can carry a 1,000-pound payload, which may include two AIM-120 medium-range air-to-air missiles or side-looking radar imaging sensors.

Obviously, the Model 437 stealth drone is a competitor of the "loyal wingman" of the US Navy and Air Force. Its competitors come from Boeing, Lockheed Martin, General Atomics, Kratos and other companies. Each company has released concept drawings or has already produced prototypes. For example, the XQ-58 "Valkyrie" drone developed by Kratos completed its first flight in March 2019 and completed the first artificial intelligence control test in 2023. It does not require runway facilities for takeoff and landing, and uses rocket-assisted launch and parachute recovery. The disadvantage is that it is too small and can only accommodate two GBU-39 small-diameter bombs in the bomb bay.

Boeing Australia launched the MQ-28 "Ghost Bat" UAV in 2019 and completed its first flight in February 2021. Its biggest feature is that it can perform reconnaissance, electronic warfare, attack and other tasks by replacing different nose modules. Australia plans to manufacture dozens of them in the next five years to equip its Air Force and hopes to export them. The U.S. Air Force has stated that it will purchase at least one for testing.

Similar to the "Ghost Bat" drone that changes its head to obtain different functions, General Atomics' "Start" drone uses a body-changing method, using different wings and fuselages on the core platform to obtain drones with different functions such as reconnaissance, surveillance, and air combat. The company also has a drone called "Long Shot" that is delivered by bombers or fighters. It has built-in air-to-air missiles and serves as a forward-flying aerial ammunition bay to intercept enemy air targets according to the orders of the manned leader.

Lockheed Martin also proposed the concept of a drone system cluster, which is composed of drones of various sizes. Among them are the "Racer" general multi-mission vehicle that is externally mounted or air-launched on the F-35 fighter, drones with a flying wing layout that perform surveillance and reconnaissance missions in a confrontational environment, drones that serve as external sensors and perform communication relay missions, and a drone similar to the "Long-Shot" that carries air-to-air missiles and air-to-surface missiles.

These companies have actively proposed plans and launched drone prototypes in order to compete for the U.S. Navy and Air Force's "Loyal Wingman" program. Because the purchase quantity will be very large, reaching thousands of aircraft, although the unit price is low and the aircraft must be consumable, once they win the bid, the profits will be very substantial.

Why did Northrop Grumman's Model 437 drone have a manned cockpit? What advantages does it have compared to other companies? The US media speculated that, firstly, it was to address the US's restrictions on the airspace and methods of drone operations, and to use a manned approach to get rid of these restrictions and conduct more test flight subjects for testing and training; secondly, while developing high-performance drones, it may also derive a low-cost, stealth, and light tactical fighter for the export market. Northrop Grumman's main products in recent decades have been the B-2 and B-21 bombers. This time, it seems to be targeting the field of unmanned wingman aircraft to revive its fighter business.

Kankan News Reporter: Li Suning

Editor: Li Suning

Editor: Fang Liang