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Drone tankers for the airforce.

Zulfiqar

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Instead of procuring big tankers we can work on a line of drones that can be used as a wingman carrying sow for a strike or as a tanker.

The US Navy has a requirement for small tankers and a company is currently working on it.

I think we should collaborate with china on developing such drones.

@messiach @Oscar @Bilal Khan (Quwa)



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https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zo...r-drone-demonstrator-flies-for-the-first-time
 
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It is doable.

Our F-7s and Chinese JL-9 use the same engines. We can use that to build a ucav/fuel drone around it in order to have some commonality and service support. Either that or some other engine around 10,000 lb thrust that has a widepread use with better fuel efficiency.
 
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It is doable.

Our F-7s and Chinese JL-9 use the same engines. We can use that to build a ucav/fuel drone around it in order to have some commonality and service support. Either that or some other engine around 10,000 lb thrust that has a widepread use with better fuel efficiency.
Turbojet, and turbojets are fuel hungry as compare to modern turbofan @Zulfiqar
 
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turbofan cannot be used as tanker
reason is they are too slow , and jets cannot fly with that low speed
 
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Turbojet, and turbojets are fuel hungry as compare to modern turbofan @Zulfiqar

Yes that is why I mentioned "some other engine". I forgot to add turbofan with it.

F-7s use turbojets.However, Chinese are sticking with the same engine for JL-9. This is why mentioned it as we will have engine support for years as long as those engine are in service with the Chinese.

turbofan cannot be used as tanker
reason is they are too slow , and jets cannot fly with that low speed

I think you meant turboprop.
 
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turbofan cannot be used as tanker
reason is they are too slow , and jets cannot fly with that low speed
Ther are 2 type of turbo fan Low by pass which used by lots of modern fighter jets like F-16/F-15/F-18/Mig-29 and high by pass turbo fan which is used mainly by Airliners and only fighter jet of the world F-35 @Oracle

Yes that is why I mentioned "some other engine". I forgot to add turbofan with it.

F-7s use turbojets.However, Chinese are sticking with the same engine for JL-9. This is why mentioned it as we will have engine support for years as long as those engine are in service with the Chinese.
No need to bring Drone tanker, but buddy buddy air refueling system is already are operational on various air forces/USN @Zulfiqar
MiG-29-buddy-buddy.jpg
buddy-refuelling-pods.jpg
 
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Ther are 2 type of turbo fan Low by pass which used by lots of modern fighter jets like F-16/F-15/F-18/Mig-29 and high by pass turbo fan which is used mainly by Airliners and only fighter jet of the world F-35 @Oracle


No need to bring Drone tanker, but buddy buddy air refueling system is already are operational on various air forces/USN @Zulfiqar
View attachment 580265 View attachment 580266


US Navy is moving away from it for better utilization of their fighter aircrafts.

Utilizing a fighter aircraft as a tanker will be a misuse considering our smaller numbers relative to enemy.

Plus the system that I am suggesting is a dual use system with added ability to act as a wingman to carry small SOWs like SDBs or spear 3/brimstone e.t.c
 
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US Navy is moving away from it for better utilization of their fighter aircrafts.

Utilizing a fighter aircraft as a tanker will be a misuse considering our smaller numbers relative to enemy.

Plus the system that I am suggesting is a dual use system with added ability to act as a wingman to carry small SOWs like SDBs or spear 3/brimstone e.t.c
buddy refueling systems is also used for duel use bro @Zulfiqar
 
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buddy refueling systems is also used for duel use bro @Zulfiqar


Need to consider the aircraft inventory presently at hand, hardpoints and their loiter time. They can't perform dual tasks if the space is used for refueling task.

Better to have a tanker drone with a swing role where internal/external fuel tanks (apart from those for drone's own use) can be swapped for SOWs.

Those SOWs can be used via data link to complement thunder strike package for dangerous missions such as SEAD.
 
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Need to consider the aircraft inventory presently at hand, hardpoints and their loiter time. They can't perform dual tasks if the space is used for refueling task.

Better to have a tanker drone with a swing role where internal/external fuel tanks (apart from those for drone's own use) can be swapped for SOWs.

Those SOWs can be used via data link to complement thunder strike package for dangerous missions such as SEAD.
Tanker drone is/will also doing only one job,if they will have 2 job like you suggest it will lose one mission either to refuel jet or attack ground targets if they will do both jobs it will reduce both capabilities like (CARRYING LESS FUEL TO REFUEL OR CARRYING LESS WEAPONS TO ATTACK FOR GROUND TARGETS) @Zulfiqar
 
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Tanker drone is/will also doing only one job,if they will have 2 job like you suggest it will lose one mission either to refuel jet or attack ground targets if they will do both jobs it will reduce both capabilities like (CARRYING LESS FUEL TO REFUEL OR CARRYING LESS WEAPONS TO ATTACK FOR GROUND TARGETS) @Zulfiqar

Yes I know that but utilizing a trained fighter pilot and a high g capable fighter aircraft for fuel duty is a misuse for a smaller airforce such as PAF.

I suggested a dual use drone not one that has to perform these tasks simultaneously.

You don't need such drones ...

Please do elaborate.
 
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