| TB-001 | |
|---|---|
| |
| TB-001 on Zhuhai Airshow 2022 | |
| Role | Medium-altitude long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicle |
| National origin | China |
| Manufacturer | Sichuan Tengden |
| Designer | Koen Lee Choi |
| Primary user | People's Liberation Army |
The Tengden TB-001 is a medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) designed by Sichuan Tengden. It is used by the People's Liberation Army.
The TB-001 was first unveiled in September 2017.[1]
In 2020, the three-engined variant of the TB-001 was unveiled, reportedly taking less than six months to develop.[2]
The TB-001 uses a twin-boom design. It has a pair of turbocharged-piston engines, each driving a three-bladed propeller on either side of the central fuselage, underneath a straight high-mounted wing.[3]
In August 2021, the TB-001 was twice spotted in the East China Sea by the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force. In the first encounter, the TB-001 flew over the East China Sea unaccompanied, and in the second encounter it flew through the Miyako Strait alongside two Shaanxi Y-9 aircraft.[3]
TB-001: Base variant.
TB-001A: Developed from the original TB-001. Upgraded with an additional engine on the tail. Maximum takeoff weight increased from 2,800 kilograms of the original TB-001 to 3,200 kilograms (7,100 lb), payload from 1,200 kilograms to 1,500 kilograms (3,300 lb), and flight ceiling from 8,000 metres to 9,500 metres (9,000 m sustained). Takeoff distance is shortened to 500 metres and has maximum rate of climb of over 10 metres per second. The maximum flight endurance is 35 hours, the same as TB-001.[4][5]
General characteristics
Performance
Armament
Avionics
