China Unveils a Harpy-Type Loitering Munition

The IAI Harpy is an unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) produced by Israel Aerospace Industries. The Harpy is designed to attack radar systems and is optimised for the SEAD role. It carries a high explosive warhead. The Harpy has been sold to several foreign nations, including South Korea, Turkey, India, and China.

In 2004, the Harpy became the focus of the effort by the United States to restrict arms transfers and the sales of advanced military technology to China. Sold to China in 1994 for around US$55 million, the UAVs were returned to Israel in 2004 under contract to be upgraded. The United States, fearing that the Harpy would pose a threat to Taiwanese and American forces in the case of a war with China, demanded that Israel seize the UAVs and nullify the contract. According to Israel, the Harpy is an indigenously designed UAV. It does not contain any US-produced sub-systems.

In 2005, the UAVs were returned to China without being upgraded. This incident chilled relations between the United States and Israel, with Israel being suspended from its status as Security Cooperative Participant in the Joint Strike Fighter program. As of November 6, 2005, however, Israel has stated that it has been re-admitted into the program.

I wonder whether this two decade old tech, with such a slow speed can do the desired job.
I doubt it can be intercept easily.

 

You might inspect https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IAI_Harop

http://defense-update.com/directory/harpy.htm

 

From the photo, you can see the Chinese one looks bigger and has a more aerodynamic shape. Lastly, you assume the tech inside the Chinese one will be as old as the 20years harpy which you really think so?

 

Dear I will appreciate if you share the added advantages or competitive edge of Chinese one over Harpy. Thanks.

 

The Chinese can pretty much kiss any prospect of future Israeli military purchases goodbye. Additionally, this system is essentially obsolete given the development of ground-launched loitering munitions with far greater range (e.g. the 150-km-ranged GL SDB).

 

Better AI with more powerful chips than 20 years and superior network that makes a whole swap of drone link to do one task or split tasking to maximise damage. Harpy is not network. It just a pre program dumb drone to do one task.

Anyway, this is just basic version. The one you saw one the opening thread are the real military grade. Bigger, faster and more loitering time, more function and a more powerful explosive.