China's New Aerial Cluster Drone

Chinese scientists have developed a new type of war drone that can rapidly multiply midair, a tactical shock and awe phenomenon against potential adversaries like the US, the South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported.

The new drone is similar to a consumer-grade Chinese DJI multirotor, which can split into two, three or even six smaller drones depending on battle needs.

Each drone has only one blade but can hover, move freely like a regular drone and communicate with other drones. Each can also play a specific role such as command, surveillance, tracking and even attack while collaborating to complete a mission.

SCMP notes that progress in this technology has been slow due to the significantly decreased flight efficiency of traditional drones combined.     READ MORE...

The Droneliner

As we move towards a more automated age in aviation with an emphasis on sustainability, there are plenty of developments around automated aircraft. One of the more extreme proposals is for a computerized cargo aircraft that could theoretically stay airborne indefinitely.
Droneliner

Automated aircraft, of course, are not a new concept. Over the past years, many companies have set out to make autonomous flight a reality. Their growth is dramatically linked to the pilot shortage and the need for improved sustainability in the aviation industry. As such, multiple companies are in the process of developing autonomous technology aircraft that are both safe and sustainable.           READ MORE...

China Buys North Dakota Farm

A Chinese company paid $2.6 million for 300 acres of farmland in Grand Forks, North Dakota, 

sparking concerns about espionage.

A Chinese company’s purchase of farmland in North Dakota just down the road from a US Air Force base that houses sensitive drone technology has lawmakers on Capitol Hill worried about potential espionage by Beijing, according to a report.

Fufeng Group, a Shandong, China-based company that specializes in flavor enhancers and sugar substitutes, recently purchased 300 acres of farmland near Grand Forks, North Dakota, a rural area that lies about a 90-minute drive from the Canadian border.

Grand Forks is also 40 miles away from Grafton, North Dakota, where a limited liability company believed to be controlled by billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates recently paid $13 million for thousands of acres of potato farmland, causing a stir among locals.

Three North Dakotans sold the land to Fufeng Group for $2.6 million, according to CNBC.

Like the Gates-linked purchase, the sale of local farmland to a Chinese company sparked a visceral reaction, according to one of the sellers, Gary Bridgeford.

That’s because the land is just a 20-minute drive from Grand Forks Air Force Base, which is believed to be the home of some of the country’s most sophisticated military drone technology.

Bridgeford told CNBC that some locals planted signs on his front yard condemning the transaction.  READ MORE...

Chinese Have Found Flaws in US Drone

Chinese aviation engineers have reportedly found a flaw in the United States’ new Kratos XQ-58A Valkyrie combat drone, asserting that the experimental system may not be effective in combat.

Citing Chinese publication Aircraft Design, South China Morning Post reported that engineer analysis of the Valkyrie design and implied functions shows it sacrifices maneuverability for firepower and fuel efficiency.

Engineers based the analysis on publicly available photos of the drone analyzed through reverse engineering technology.

One of the major flaws they pointed out was that the combat drone can only withstand a pull of 1.7 times the force of gravity. Usually, a combat aircraft should withstand a braking force of at least seven times the force of gravity or even higher.

Although they cited a weakness in the Valkyrie, the analysts admitted that several aspects may give it an advantage.

The US Air Force and drone manufacturer Kratos have yet to comment on the analysis.

The XQ-58A Valkyrie
The Valkyrie combat drone is an experimental stealth drone that is the result of a collaboration between defense company Kratos and the US Air Force Low Cost Attritable Strike Demonstrator program.

The first Valkyrie completed its maiden test flight in March, undergoing a total of seven test flights. According to data released by the air force, the recorded top speed of the Valkyrie is Mach 0.95 (728.6 mph).

China is also developing high-speed drones that it claims can attain speeds of up to Mach 5 (3,836.3 mph).