The Air Force's active F-5 fighter jets are expected to be retired by the end of next year. Zhang Zhongcheng, president of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, said in an inquiry in the Legislative Yuan last week that he does have the idea of changing the F-5 fighter jets into target drones and drones. In fact, Wang Shaoxiang, a military researcher, combed through the service history of F-5 fighter jets and revealed that the Chinese Academy of Sciences had modified 4 fighter jets under the name of "Sword Tiger Project" as early as the 1980s with the assistance of American company Flight System Inc. "F-5A" battle
F-5A fighter jet (photo taken by Iain Mackenzie on April 19, 1988, Wang Shaoxiang agreed to authorize the use after getting in touch, and published it on Wang’s FB fan page)
[Reporter Tu Jumin/Taipei Report] The Air Force’s active F-5 fighter jet is expected to be launched next year Zhang Zhongcheng, president of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, said in an inquiry in the Legislative Yuan last week that he did have the idea of changing the F-5 fighter jets into target drones and drones.
In fact, Wang Shaoxiang, a military researcher, combed through the service history of F-5 fighter jets and revealed that as early as the 1980s, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, under the name of "Sword and Tiger Project", modified 4 fighter jets with the assistance of American company Flight System Inc. The "F-5A" fighter plane became the "QF-5A" remote control drone.
In the end, each of the four target drones was shot down by the "Tianjian-1" and "Tiangong-1" missiles, which can be said to be dedicated.
Wang Shaoxiang has a deep research on the Chinese Air Force. He is the editor-in-chief of the Facebook fan page "IDF Jingguohao". The pages of the book share the history of my country's F-5 fighter jets converted into unmanned target drones. The Liberty Times "Junwu Channel" was authorized by Wang Shaoxiang to publish the ins and outs of the "Sword and Tiger Project" in full.
The following is the full text of Wang Shaoxiang's "Complete Version of the Once Supersonic Target Drone Sword Tiger Project":
Please read on...
It is not news that the Chinese Academy of Sciences wants to use their brains on the F-5. As early as the 1980s, due to the testing requirements of the Tiangong and Tianjian missiles for supersonic targets, they used the name "Sword Tiger Project" in the American company Flight System Inc. . (Also known as Tracor, later merged by BAE) assisted in modifying 4 decommissioned F-5As to become QF-5A remote control drones.
Since the source of these F-5As at that time was the sorting machine after decommissioning (Note), the American businessman asked the aviation development center to test the flight before departure, so Chen Kangding, Wu Kezhen, Zhu Taihua, and Wu Kangming from the aviation development center at the Qingquangang base Two test pilots flew a batch separately, among them Zhu Taihua went to the Tainan base to receive F-5E refit training for this plan because the military aircraft was F-100A (Peng Shengzhu served as the instructor).
Afterwards, the four fighters that were verified to be correct were immediately disassembled and packed, and shipped to Mojave Airport in California, USA.
The four fighters responsible for the "Sword Tiger Project" had their aircraft numbers and national emblems erased before leaving the country. Only the US military serial number and the blue and white stripes on the tail were kept on the original paint job. The Aviation Development Center sent Major Zhu Taihua, the program test pilot, to Mojave Airport for supervision. and flight test missions.
Although the QF-5A is already an unmanned target drone, Zhu Taihua is still allowed to sit in the cockpit as the safety pilot (Safe pilot) for the sake of prudence. Two retired pilots, Luo Zhidao (48) and Gao Guozhu (57), who have F-5 flight experience, were hired by the development center to go to the United States for training.
However, the first batch of test flights (not yet modified) after the arrival of the F-5A almost caused a flight safety accident.
Zhu Taihua recalled that shortly after takeoff, the warning lights in the plane were all on, and the cockpit flickered with various lights like a video game. He calmly called the control tower and landed the plane.
Later, it was investigated that the cause of the failure was that the U.S. side had no experience in F-5 assembly (mainly F-4 and F-100 at that time), which resulted in a connector being reversed during the assembly process, and the warning light was fully on. After correcting, the problem is solved.
Another thrill occurred in a certain test flight after modification. The QF-5A took off and went to the airspace to perform subjects. However, the high-altitude performance of this type of fighter was not good. When making a 4G turn, the dual engines suddenly turned off and the radio failed. Turn the nose directly to the nearest Edwards Air Force Base (Edwards AFB) for an emergency landing.
However, when the radio failed, the plane could not communicate with the air traffic control. After descending the altitude, Zhu Taihua clearly saw a space shuttle that had just landed parked on the runway!
At the same time, he turned his head to the left and right to see if there were any US fighter jets to intercept him... Finally, the engine restarted successfully, and after the communication with the air traffic control was restored, Zhu Taihua landed the fighter plane smoothly, ending the panic.
After the QF-5A target drone returned to Taiwan in the early 1990s, it was deployed at Zhihang Base, which is the closest to Jiupeng. It was first checked and accepted by pilots sent by the US side, and then began regular route tests.
For each batch of flights, the pilots in the cockpit (Zhu Taihua and American pilots take turns) drive first, slide out to the end of the runway and stop, and then the ground remote control station takes over the operation. In case of a real live ammunition shooting mission, the pilot disembarks at the end of the runway, and Fasten the seat belt, close the cockpit, and then take off with full throttle and loose brake. In order to prevent the pilot from being sucked into the air intake when getting off the plane, the air intake will be put on a filter screen when the plane slides out (at the same time after getting off the plane) Take it off), the throttle will also be turned to idle first.
In addition, during the route test, an F-5F two-seater aircraft is regularly dispatched to accompany it, responsible for monitoring the flight status of the target aircraft and taking pictures.
The four target drones were shot down by "Tianjian-1" (launched by F-5F No. 5391) and "Tiangong-1" missiles respectively.
In addition, there is one in the record because the Jianyi missile missed the target, and the target aircraft ran out of the runway and was damaged when returning to land, and almost hit the GCA radar of Zhihang base.
The reason for the damage is speculated by those who witnessed the incident from the onboard video system. It may be that the remote control technology was immature at that time, and there was a delay in the signal transmission process with the ground control station, which caused the target drone to lose control when it landed.
Later, under the mission requirements, the Aviation Development Center refitted two more 1272 and 1280, but they have not been used for a long time.
After a while, it was abandoned in the Tuji Fort next to the test flight shed factory, where it spent years with the F-5E No. 5270 and the AT-3 test body that were planned to kill meat in the "Tiger 2000" plan.
On February 22, 2012, Hanxiang emptied the Tuji Fort and sold the F-5A/E scrapped machine to a hardware recycler. However, when the manufacturer used the machine tool to destroy it, because there was still fuel inside, the spark generated by the metal ignited it, and the plane suddenly False alarm caused by burning.
Note:
The serial numbers/paintings of the four planes that went to the United States for further study are:
66-9188 Silver
69-7117 Southeast Asia
69-7120 Silver
70-1397 Southeast Asia
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Legislators proposed changing F-5 fighter jets to drones Zhang Zhongcheng, President of the Chinese Academy of Sciences: I really have this idea
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FAQs
Should the US use drone strikes? ›
Drone strikes can be an effective tool to degrade terrorist threats, reduce risks to our troops, and protect innocent civilians. It is in the United States' interest to use this tool responsibly by upholding rigorous legal and policy standards to protect our military personnel and civilian lives throughout the world.
How effective are drone strikes? ›Put simply, the evidence suggests that U.S. drone strikes outpaced al-Qaeda's organizational processes for managing personnel turnover and mentoring new personnel. Based on this documented evidence, it appears that the steady increase in drone strikes degraded the quality of al-Qaeda's personnel.
How can drones be used to combat terrorism? ›By targeting leaders, therefore, drones not only eliminate rhetorical fuel for terrorist fire, but also disrupt strategic focus and operations. The drone's capability to collect intelligence and strike enemy combatants engenders fear in the ranks of al Qaeda.
How do drone attacks work? ›Drone strikes work by firing a missile, dropping bombs, or crashing into a target area using commercial UCAVS. The users weaponize commercial unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) by loading them with dangerous explosives and crashing into a vulnerable target or exploding above it.
Are US drone strikes a war crime? ›In cases of doubt, individuals should be presumed to be civilians and protected from direct attack. Making the civilian population, or individual civilians not taking a direct part in hostilities, the object of attack (direct attacks on civilians) is a war crime.
Did the US government ban DJI drones? ›However, DJI is now considered a national security threat by the Department of Defense and many U.S. lawmakers. Recently, the U.S. federal government banned the purchase of Chinese drones within the federal sector.
What is the best defense against drones? ›- Counter the Drone Threat.
- Drone Monitoring Equipment.
- Radio Frequency (RF) Analysers.
- Optical Sensors (Cameras)
- Acoustic Sensors (Microphones)
- Radar.
- Drone Countermeasure Equipment.
- Radio Frequency Jammers.
The average salary for an UAV Pilot is $63,750 per year in United States, which is 22% lower than the average US Air Force salary of $82,787 per year for this job.
Is there a weapon against drones? ›The DroneGun Tactical provides a safe countermeasure against a wide range of UAS threats (e.g. drones), with no damage to common UAS models or surrounding environment.
What problems do military drones solve? ›With their remote control abilities, Drones monitor locations, communicate possible hazards, and notify threatening conditions. such as oil and gas refineries,pipelines and flare stacks. Not only this, Drone Technology is employed in the military during high-risk periods as well.
How are US drones controlled? ›
Drones are programmed to carry out a task independently while remotely controlled by an operator using a sophisticated ground control station (GCS Unit).
How do airports stop drones? ›This could include built-in airspace maps which prevent the drone from flying in protected airspace, radio beacons which transmit drone information to nearby authorities during flight and backdoor security access that could allow members of law enforcement to take over and land unlawful drones.
How do police detect drones? ›Drones operating on RF communication can be tracked using RF sensors, while others that are GPS Pre-Programmed to a way point can be tracked using Radar detection. Visual detection technology like Pan, Tilt and Zoom (PTZ) Cameras can be used to get visuals on the detected drone, and confirm a drone threat.
What is the most powerful drone in the US? ›The General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper (sometimes called Predator B) is an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) capable of remotely controlled or autonomous flight operations, developed by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI) primarily for the United States Air Force (USAF).
How do prisons detect drones? ›Prisons integrate DroneShield into their zone-based alarm systems to achieve consistent, complete monitoring of their perimeters, airspace and centralized facilities. Its alerts give advanced warning of UAS activity and can be configured to automatically disrupt UAS that enter a specified perimeter.
How many drone strikes under Biden? ›However, in 2022, the Biden administration conducted 13 strikes – more than were conducted in 2021, according to New America's tracking, and more than triple the number known to have been conducted under Biden that year.
Is it a federal offense to destroy a drone? ›Under federal law, willfully shooting down an aircraft (including drones) is a felony that may lead to imprisonment (18 U.S.C. § 32)—not to mention other potential liability tied to discharging a firearm into the sky.
How many US citizens have been killed by drone strikes? ›The US justice secretary has acknowledged that four Americans have been killed abroad in drone strikes since 2009. Eric Holder said only one individual had been specifically targeted - the radical cleric Anwar al Awlaki, who was killed in Yemen in 2011.
Has a US drone ever been shot down? ›1991: RQ-2A Pioneer, Kuwait, Iraq
A pioneer drone mid-flight. Of the 34 Pioneers deployed to the Persian Gulf War, only 2 were shot down. “We think it's the first electronic capture in history.” The RQ-2A Pioneer was the first modern-style drone flown by the United States.
DJI currently dominates more than 70% of the global drone market. According to a report by Drone Industry Insights, the market is expected to grow from $30.6 billion in 2022 to $55.8 billion by 2030. The Shenzhen-based company was formed in 2006 out of a college dorm room by its founder Frank Wang.
What is the largest military drone? ›
The RQ-4 is a high-altitude surveillance drone primarily tasked with intelligence gathering to support American forces in global military operations. It was designed and built by aerospace company Northrop Grumman and made its maiden flight in February 1998. It is the largest drone in the US arsenal.
Which country has the most advanced military drones? ›China's domination of the global market for combat drones over the past decade is partly due to a vast state-funded effort that seeks to elevate the country's armed forces to “world class standards”.
What is the best weapon to destroy drones? ›A high-energy laser can destroy most drones in seconds by heating the vehicle to a point where systems fail. Unlike jamming and microwaves, lasers are extremely accurate; when pointed precisely, they will kill intended targets while causing no collateral damage.
How do military drones avoid jamming? ›Frequency hopping is a technique that involves rapidly changing the frequency of the radio signal in order to avoid interference. This technique is effective in preventing jamming, as it makes it difficult for a jammer to keep up with the changing frequencies.
What is the highest paid drone pilot? ›Annual Salary | Monthly Pay | |
---|---|---|
Top Earners | $160,000 | $13,333 |
75th Percentile | $69,000 | $5,750 |
Average | $64,526 | $5,377 |
25th Percentile | $36,000 | $3,000 |
Despite every branch using drones to some degree, most drone pilots belong to the U.S. Air Force. Looking at the rank & job description of Air Force drone pilots, you'll need to hold at least a rank of Second Lieutenant to qualify for the position.
Do drone pilots have PTSD? ›Many Veterans develop PTSD if they have to kill in self-defense, even if their job and duty require it, or if they kill to save the life of a fellow service member. Drone pilots may develop PTSD due to the similar moral weight of this action.
Can an EMP stop a drone? ›An electronic and telecommunications engineer with the Defense Research Development Organization (DRDO) EurAsian Times spoke to said EMPs can undoubtedly knock out electronic and electrical appliances in a certain radius, including swarm drones.
What is the gun that disables drones? ›An anti-drone gun, also known as a portable electromagnetic weapon, is a device specifically designed to remove unwanted drones from the air. It can be used for a variety of applications, including security, privacy protection and protection against drones that are dangerous or flying in the air uninvited.
How do you jam a drone signal? ›One way to jam a drone is to use an RF Jammer, which broadcasts radio frequencies that interfere with the drone's ability to receive and transmit signals. Another way is to use an RF Signal Booster, which amplifies your own signal in order to overpower the drone's signal.
What are 3 bad things about drones? ›
- Airspace Threats. Imagine the level of damage a swarm of drones could cause if they were sucked into a jet engine. ...
- Vehicles for Weapons. ...
- Low-Tech Corporate Espionage. ...
- High-Tech Corporate Espionage. ...
- Smuggling. ...
- Collisions. ...
- The Difficulty of Enforcing the Rules. ...
- Drone-Based Hacking.
Disadvantages of UAV
UAVs can be hijacked or manipulated. They can also trespass into authorized areas such as airports and military zones.
Without the ability to recognize other airborne objects, unmanned aerial vehicles can interfere with the flight patterns of other aircraft and pose potential safety threats. Geofencing helps to address this issue by creating a virtual fence that drones adhere to.
Who has the best military drones in the world? ›1. Northrop Grumman: Northrop Grumman is a leading global security company that provides military drones and unmanned systems for a variety of applications. They offer the RQ-4 Global Hawk, an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) designed for long-range surveillance and reconnaissance missions.
How far away can military drones be controlled from? ›NATO type 10,000 ft (3,000 m) altitude, up to 50 km range. Tactical 18,000 ft (5,500 m) altitude, about 160 km range. MALE (medium altitude, long endurance) up to 30,000 ft (9,000 m) and range over 200 km. HALE (high altitude, long endurance) over 30,000 ft (9,100 m) and indefinite range.
Does the US have an anti drone defense? ›The U.S. Army has selected the Coyote drone for a near-term counter-UAS solution. Equipped with an advanced seeker and warhead, the Coyote-enabled system can successfully identify and eliminate threat UAVs.
Can an airport see my drone? ›Can airports detect drones? Typically, Air Traffic Control towers and most airports will not be able to see your drone on radar. Specially tuned drone radar systems can detect drones, but they are generally different from the radar systems used at airports.
How do I block drone surveillance? ›- Use your surroundings to take cover. This is the simplest—and cheapest—way to evade drone surveillance. ...
- Confuse a drone with an anti-surveillance jacket. ...
- Avoid facial recognition with a disguise. ...
- Don't forget your umbrella.
- Shoot It Down With A Gun.
- Use Anti-drone Drones.
- Use Net-firing Anti-drone Guns.
- Jam The Drone's Radio Communications.
- Use Trained Eagles To Capture Drones.
- Buy A Drone-jamming Device.
- Contact Law Enforcement.
- Start Yelling.
Now drones can be flown into a building and conduct room searches remotely with no potential harm to the officer. In situations where a person is holed up in a room, the drone can be positioned or “perched” to maintain surveillance. This intelligence also allows LEOs to know the best time to enter.
What happens if I fly my drone over 400 feet? ›
When you fly a drone above 400 feet, you risk a dangerous in-flight collision that can damage equipment and lead to unwanted consequences. Most near-miss events between aircraft occur above 400 feet. You may risk losing your drone at great heights.
Can police watch you with drones? ›In California, for example, it's illegal for police officers to use drones without obtaining a search warrant before doing so, even if they're in pursuit of a suspect who may pose an imminent threat to the public.
What is America's best drone? ›- Freefly Astro.
- Parrot Anafi Ai.
- Skydio.
- Sony Airpeak.
- Wingtra.
- Brinc Drones.
- Aerovironment.
- Harris Aerial.
Brussels (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – How far can military drones flown by the United States travel? They have a range of more than 12,000 nautical miles, the ability to fly at heights of up to 60,000 feet, and the ability to remain airborne for 34 hours.
Can drones fly as high as planes? ›400 feet is the maximum altitude the F.A.A permits a sUAS (small unmanned aircraft system), or drone, to operate at so as not to interfere with other aircraft in the sky. This keeps drones a safe distance away from airplanes, helicopters, and other aircraft systems and helps prevents collisions.
Can police drones see through walls? ›Currently, drones cannot “see” through walls. While some technologies, such as radar and thermal imaging, can detect objects or surfaces behind walls or other obstacles, they do not allow a drone to see through the wall in the same way that a person would see through a window.
Can police drones hear conversations? ›Yes, drones can hear conversations. Drones are able to hear conversations because they are equipped with microphones and speakers. The microphones allow them to pick up sounds and frequencies that humans can't hear, while the speakers allow them to communicate back to humans.
What can police drones see at night? ›Police drones have infrared cameras and thermal imaging capabilities that allow them to see through walls and windows. They are able to do this through a process called Forward Looking Infrared (FLIR). This kind of vision doesn't just work in daylight; it also works at night—even if there is no moonlight!
Why do we need drone strikes? ›Drone strikes are carried out with the collaboration and encouragement of local governments, and make those countries safer. US drone strikes help countries fight terrorist threats to their own domestic peace and stability, including al Qaeda and the Taliban in Pakistan…
Are drone strikes ethical? ›Scholars generally link the public's perceptions of what makes drone warfare morally legitimate to one of three moral norms: soldiers' physical courage on the battlefield in conducting strikes, the security outcomes of those strikes, and the protection of civilians.
Why should drones be used in war? ›
Armed drones can be operated from very far away and many of their functions automatized. This helps reduce the possibility of a human mistake during an operation. Technological progress: military drones have allowed the testing of new technologies, many of which can now be used for civil and commercial purposes.
What country has the most combat drones? ›China's domination of the global market for combat drones over the past decade is partly due to a vast state-funded effort that seeks to elevate the country's armed forces to “world class standards”.
What countries are the US drone strikes? ›Since the September 11 attacks, the United States has carried out drone strikes in Pakistan, Yemen, Somalia, Afghanistan, Iraq and Libya. Drone strikes are part of a targeted killing campaign against militants.
Are drones a security threat? ›Since the majority of commercial drones systems interact with their base using unencrypted communication channels, they can become vulnerable to exploitation by a cyber criminal who can intercept and have access to sensitive data drone exchanges with the base such as pictures, videos, and flight paths.
How many civilians have been killed by drone strikes? ›According to the Bureau of Investigative Journalism (BIJ), for instance, U.S. strikes in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Somalia, and Yemen from 2002 to 2020 killed between 10,000 and 17,000 people. Of these, between 800 and 1,750 are thought to have been civilians.
Why are drones bad in war? ›They are mostly used for surveillance in areas and terrains where troops are unable to safely go. But they are also used as weapons and have been credited with killing suspected militants.
What is the most advanced drone technology? ›MQ-9 Reaper is an unmanned aerial vehicle that has gained a reputation as the world's first hunter-killer UAV with long-range, high-altitude surveillance capabilities. When compared to others, this is larger, heavier, and way more powerful.
How many people in the US own a drone? ›The 1,000,000 total registration figure includes 878,000 hobbyists, who receive one identification number for all the drones they own, and 122,000 commercial, public and other drones, which are individually registered.
Which country killed the most in ww2? ›Second World War: fatalities per country 1939-1945. Estimates for the total death count of the Second World War generally range somewhere between 70 and 85 million people. The Soviet Union suffered the highest number of fatalities of any single nation, with estimates mostly falling between 22 and 27 million deaths.
Who started drone strikes? ›These strikes began during the administration of United States President George W. Bush, and increased substantially under his successor Barack Obama. Some in the media referred to the attacks as a "drone war".