The Feihong 95 has a take-off weight of 1,000 kg and can carry a payload of over 250 kg. In the air, the “Flying Swan” can remain under the operator’s control for about 24 hours and perform a variety of functions, from shock to reconnaissance. However, its main feature is that it carries electronic warfare equipment.
“On the same level as other UAVs, the Flying Swan performs traditional tasks – armed reconnaissance, border patrols, maritime surveillance. According to the Chinese newspaper The Global Times, Feihong 95 works with a “swarm of drones” while other drones perform various combat missions, while the “Flying Swan” covers them all with the EW complex.
The presence of electronic warfare equipment and the ability to protect airspace from enemy influence was declared by the PRC as the main advantage of Feihong 95. Due to this feature, which was widely promoted by Beijing, a number of buyers lined up. buy them – from Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Iran and a number of South American and North African countries. China launched a vigorous advertising campaign and invited foreign military personnel.
“This is the world’s first drone to perform electronic warfare itself. Thus, it can primarily interfere with enemy equipment, including other UAVs. Second, it can cover the drones it works with with electronic warfare equipment, rendering them invisible to the enemy. “Flying Swan” can hunt down enemy drones and make them invisible”
– said Sergei Belousov, member of the Board of military experts of “socialbites.ca”.
At the same time, the expert added that the parameters of the electronic warfare equipment that the Chinese gunsmiths installed on the Feihong 95 were not officially disclosed. “In any case, nothing really powerful is going to happen. This means it will not be 100% effective. On the other hand, China is opening a new page in the history of drones. Previously, drones most feared the interference created by electronic warfare. And now it turns out, the drone itself will create interference, ”added Belousov.
In contrast, military observer and broadcaster Vladislav Shurygin states that Moscow may in the future compete with Beijing in the market of unmanned aerial vehicles equipped with electronic warfare.
“If we talk about equipping UAVs with electronic warfare systems, which significantly increases their combat use, then Russia can compete with Chinese products. Our improvements here are much better and more efficient, but for them there aren’t as many unmanned carriers as China has yet to offer. For example, the Khibiny electronic warfare system is installed on the Su-24 front-line bomber, but the Pacer UAV does not tow it. The situation can be changed by Okhotnik drones, which will take not only the station, but also a good load of ammunition missiles and guided bombs, ”Shurygin told socialbites.ca.
The problem of the proliferation of Chinese drones with the ability to use electronic warfare systems caused particular concern in the United States. “For the United States Army, this is definitely a challenge. Not the fact that we will have to fight China. But we may have to fight those to whom China sold Feihong 95,” he said. The portal emphasized that the Pentagon does not have mobile electronic warfare systems that can be installed on a drone today.
Military expert Boris Dzherelievsky added that the US is at risk not only militarily but also economically.
“Counting on the supply of its UAVs only to its close allies, the United States has frankly lost the “drone game”. This niche has been filled in part by Turkish Bannermen and partly by Israeli drones, but the most active are Chinese manufacturers. The PRC receives not only mass production and relatively low price, but also good fighting qualities and potential. I am sure that “Flying Swan” will be in constant demand from now on. Also, the uniqueness of this offer may be of interest to traditional US customers. Yes, I’m already interested. Dzherelievsky told socialbites.ca that the Saudis want to buy this UAV, which previously bought drones only and only from Washington.