China's New High-Speed Combat Drone: A Game-Changer for Hybrid Warfare

China's military has long been investing heavily in advanced weapon systems, and the latest development to emerge from the country is the coupling of the J-20 Mighty Dragon stealth fighter jet with a new combat drone, the FH-97A.

 

According to a recent report by the South China Morning Post (SCMP), the FH-97A's fuselage design is comparable to that of the J-20, indicating that it may be capable of flying at the same speed as the jet. This development is significant because the FH-97A is being developed to serve as a "loyal wingman" to the J-20, freeing up the jet to specialize in activities like command and control, data distribution, and communication disruption.

 

China's Investment in Hybrid Warfare

 

Before we delve further into the capabilities of the J-20 and the FH-97A, it's worth exploring China's investment in hybrid warfare. The country has been researching drone technology since the 1960s, but it wasn't until the conflict in Ukraine that the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) began to increase its investment in unmanned aerial vehicles.

 

The use of drones in the conflict highlighted the need for hybrid warfare, which combines human and unmanned weapon systems. This has led to the integration of drones into combat operations alongside piloted aircraft, with the FH-97A being the latest example.

 

The J-20 Mighty Dragon

 

The J-20 Mighty Dragon is China's most advanced stealth fighter jet, designed to compete with the likes of the F-22 Raptor and the F-35 Lightning II. It first entered service in 2017 and has since undergone a number of upgrades to improve its capabilities.

 

The J-20 is notable for its advanced stealth features, including a low-observable fuselage design and radar-absorbent materials. It is also equipped with a state-of-the-art avionics suite and advanced weapons systems.

 

The FH-97A Super-speed Combat Drone

 

The FH-97A drone is being developed by Feihong Company, a division of the government-owned China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation. It made its debut at the annual Zhuhai air show in southern China in November 2022.

China's New FH-97 loyal wingman combat-drone

The drone is being developed as a "loyal wingman" to the J-20, with the goal of freeing up the jet to specialize in activities like command and control, data distribution, and communication disruption. The FH-97A is notable for its super-speed capabilities, which enable it to carry eight smaller, "intelligent" air-to-air missiles or loitering munitions. This will help make up for the J-20's deficiency in ammo.

 

The Future of Chinese Hybrid Warfare

 

The coupling of the J-20 and the FH-97A is a significant development in Chinese hybrid warfare. The use of drones as "loyal wingmen" will allow fighter jet pilots and their aircraft to survive combat more easily.

 

It will also make it more difficult for US planes to conduct close-range reconnaissance around China's southeast coast. If more of these "loyal wingman" drones are created and sent into service, drone warfare could assist the PLA in deterring US aircraft from conducting close-in reconnaissance along China's southeastern coast.

 

Conclusion

 

The coupling of the J-20 Mighty Dragon stealth fighter jet and the FH-97A super-speed combat drone is a significant development in China's investment in hybrid warfare. The use of drones as "loyal wingmen" will increase the survivability of fighter jet pilots and their aircraft in combat. It will also make it more difficult for US planes to conduct close-range reconnaissance around China's southeast coast.