The B-21 bomber, which the Americans claimed to be "the most advanced in the world", was "shot down" before it entered service.
According to India's "Eurasian Times" on November 28**, a technical team from China's Northwestern Polytechnical University published an article in the "Journal of Aeronautics".Through a combination of various new-generation hardware and software systems, China has managed to "shoot down" a B-21 bomber in simulated tests.
B-21 bomber).
According to reports, the team based on the existing theoretical achievements, the integration of artificial intelligence technology, 6G communication technology, laser communication technology and many other new generation of technological achievements, the experimental results show that "if these systems are combined with China's existing and developing new generation of advanced equipment, China will be able to achieve effective detection of the US military's penetrating stealth fighters, so as to achieve the first enemy detection, the first enemy".
The report also noted that during a certain mock test,A "** air platform" simulating a B-21 stealth bomber and a stealth drone accompanying it were spotted by Chinese air defense systems, and then the PLA used a "hypersonic anti-aircraft missile" with a maximum speed of Mach 6 to shoot it down.
The B-21 bomber is not currently in service).
It is reported that during this test, advanced sensors of the stealth aircraft simulating the B-21 detected the launch of missiles by the PLA and quickly took maneuver measures and electronic warfare means to try to evade the missile attack. But in the case of the first missile being jammed, the PLA quickly passed the guidance information to another hypersonic air-to-air missile, which made it change and correct the target in time, and finally successfully shot down the "enemy plane".
It is speculated that this "hypersonic air-to-air missile" is likely to be the legendary "Thunderbolt-21" missile.
Hypersonic missile flight CG diagram).
Although China has not officially announced" the Thunderbolt-21 or any similar air-to-air missile, its legend has been circulating in military forums at home and abroad for at least 10 years. Foreign media believe thatThe Thunderbolt-21 missile will be a "hypersonic ultra-long-range air-to-air missile" similar to the Russian R-37 missile and the American AIM-260 JATM missile, it will be equipped with a state-of-the-art pulse engine and active radar guidance system, and the range will likely exceed 400 kilometersSimilar to the R-37 missile, if not more advanced.
In addition, taking into account the fact that the R-37 missile is capable of flying at Mach 6, the AIM-260 is also designed for a speed of Mach 5, thereforeThe Thunderbolt-21 is also likely to be a Mach 6-class hypersonic missileThat is, the "high-altitude air-to-air missile" in this test.
The Thunderbolt-15 air-to-air missile mounted on the J-20 is currently the most advanced air-to-air missile in China).
To effectively detect and strike B-21 bombers, it is necessary not only to have a powerful all-weather anti-stealth situational awareness and early warning system, but also to have reliable long-range strike guidance means. It is reported that when hypersonic missiles enter the atmosphere, they will produce a plasma barrier due to high speed and high temperature, which is commonly known as the "black barrier", which leads to the inability of many hypersonic missiles to continuously carry out precision guidance. Fortunately, however, we have made significant progress in this regard.
It is reported that as early as 2022, China announced that it had discovered a way to break through the black barrier and keep in touch with high-speed aircraft;Subsequently, technological breakthroughs have been made in high-frequency band and laser communication technology, especially after China's first satellite equipped with 6G communication technology, making China the first country to deploy 6G communication technology - and 6G communication technology is said to be able to ensure continuous guidance of missiles and continuous information interaction between missiles-fighters-UAVs, and realize real-time ......changes in targets and means through high-frequency data linksThere is no doubt that 6G will become the "killer feature" for the PLA to achieve "data link advantage" in the future.
China's 6G technology has begun to mature).
Of course, simulated tests and actual combat are certainly not comparable, and this does not mean that the B-21 has completely ceased to pose a strategic threat to China. However, through the results of this test, it is not difficult for us to see that China is no longer inferior to the United States in the construction of an informationized and intelligent system for air operations, and even ahead of the United States in technological exploration. We have no doubt that in time, China's air force will become more powerful as a result, and the United States will have fewer and fewer leverage to "threaten" China.