Diamond shaped patrol missile (model). In recent years, cruise missiles have attracted high attention and development from many countries due to their precise strikes, flexible deployment, and low operating costs. At last year's Abu Dhabi International Defense Exhibition, the European Missile Group showcased a new patrol missile model called the "Diamond". Unlike other common cruise missiles, the "diamond" cruise missile does not adopt a multi rotor and flat wing configuration, but instead uses a foldable diamond wing (also known as a "connecting wing" or "diamond wing") design to achieve efficient flight. The diamond shaped foldable wing has unique advantages in aerodynamics. Firstly, its wingspan can be reduced by about half compared to a straight wing, making the structure of the cruise missile more compact and having better maneuverability. Secondly, the strength and stiffness of the wings are relatively higher, which helps to implement large overload maneuvers. Again, the effective aspect ratio and lift coefficient are large, the aerodynamic efficiency is high, and it can fly for a long time. Finally, the wings are foldable, allowing the cruise missile to operate over a wide range of speeds. Taking the "diamond shaped" cruise missile as an example, its minimum flight speed is about 100 kilometers per hour, and the speed during the final dive phase can be increased to 270 kilometers per hour. Another prominent feature of the "diamond shaped" cruise missile is the integration of AI technology, like wearing a pair of "AI glasses". After launch, it can autonomously fly to the combat airspace and transmit real-time battlefield situation through the nose mounted electro-optical equipment. Once high-value targets are identified with the assistance of artificial intelligence algorithms, the onboard system will automatically plan the optimal attack path and dive angle, and the operator only needs to "confirm with one click" to carry out the strike. In this regard, the French R2-120 "Thor" cruise missile, which also uses foldable diamond shaped wings, has some differences. After launch, the R2-120 "Thor" cruise missile will fly according to the preset mode. To modify the flight path or switch to hitting other targets, it can only be implemented by the operator through a two-way data link, without AI autonomous decision-making ability. Of course, diamond wing cruise missiles are not all advantages. Its design and manufacturing costs are relatively high, especially for the connecting wings that require precise hinge and folding mechanisms, and the process is relatively complex. At the same time, lightweight and high-strength composite materials need to be used to balance folding strength and weight, which requires high material quality. Meanwhile, although diamond shaped wings can effectively enhance range and maneuverability, their payload capacity is insufficient, indicating that they cannot carry heavier warheads and have limited strike power. Overall, like other cruise missiles with a linked wing configuration, the "diamond" cruise missile has both strengths and weaknesses. According to reports, since last year, the "Diamond" cruise missile has started flight tests, and its development company is still building similar products in other sizes. (Looking into the New Era)