Chinese CATIC has unveiled its aircraft-independent weapons pylon with onboard navigation system and fire control system for quick integration of Chinese munitions.

The plug-and-play solution to integrate Chinese munitions on non-Chinese aircraft can be used with an off-board tablet, somewhat like a mobile app.

The onboard satellite/inertial navigation is likely present for the guidance of air-to-surface munitions. It is unknown if it also possesses a data link for midcourse updates. The infographic shared by Chinese X user @Hurin92 shows that the pylon can be used with guided bombs (LS-6 wing kit bomb is shown) and air-to-surface missiles.

Plug-and-Play Solutions for Combat Aircraft

Today, integrating new munitions on demand for fighter aircraft has become a tricky affair due to restrictions owing to the integration being dependent on software.

However, the advancement of software technologies has opened a new door in the form of off-board fire control systems, allowing the aircraft to use the defined munitions with varying degrees of efficiency.

Outside of China, the plug-and-play method has been observed on several other occasions, including Turkiye’s UBAS in use with Azerbaijan’s modernised Su-25 “Laçın” ground attack aircraft (For Turkish munitions) and Ukraine’s ex-Soviet fighters using Western munitions (AGM-88 HARM, JDAM, GBU-39/B, AASM Hammer...).

Of course, these plug-and-play integrators for combat aircraft have considerable potential in exports due to allowing integration on aircraft not having a compatible interface with the munition without much work.

Author: Kaan Azman

Editor: Özgür Ekşi