Chinese UAV/UCAV development

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by78

General
A Tengoen/Tengden TB-001 UAV has successfully completed the high-altitude base station technology verification flight at Zigong Fengming General Aviation Airport. This is the world's first use of UAV as an aerial base station for multiple network operators (China Telecom, China Mobile, and China Unicom).

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SanWenYu

Senior Member
Registered Member
A bit of more in-depth introduction (in Chinese) of the TP500 UAV:
Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!


The author is well known for his pieces on civil aviation in China. He works in civil aviation (likely a ground crew at the Pudong Int'l airport).

TP500 is in take-off load class of 500kg, with a service radius of 500km and max range of 1800km. This is the first, and an experimental, model of a series in the plan. The next model TP2000 which can take off with 2,000kg load is already in development. More capable models are expected to load up to 10,000kg.

The engine is piston to reduce operating cost. According to the developer, the operating cost of TP500 will be comparable to that of the trunk route cargo aircrafts powered by jet engines (such as those based on Boeing 737).

成功首飞的TP500无人运输机是由设计了运20的一飞院主导研发的,也是首个完全以民航适航标准为指导,进行正向研发的无人运输机。TP500能装载500公斤的货物,并执行半径500公里的物流运输任务,而最大航程可以达到1800公里。
当然,TP500的500千克载量对于货机来说实在有些不够看。但TP500有着浓重的技术验证色彩,只是一系列的起点。根据制造商壹通无人机公司的介绍,载重量在2-10吨的无人运输机也在规划之中,而运载能力为2吨的TP2000无人运输机已在研发。相比500公斤载量的TP500,具有2吨运载能力的TP2000无疑有更高的效能,也会更受市场欢迎,甚至一定程度上替代干线货机在物流运输中的位置。
因此TP500使用的动力是活塞发动机,使其使用成本可以压到很低。
根据制造商壹通无人机介绍,使用TP500进行运输时可以将运输成本压到和干线喷气运输机相近的成本(如波音737改装的货机),但其使用灵活性则比干线喷气货机高了不少。

According to the media, TP500 can operate in full autonomy mode in most scenarios, including taking off, cruising, and landing. One ground control crew will be able watch and monitor multiple aircrafts simultaneously and intervene only when needed.

据媒体介绍,TP500无人机在多数场景下可以根据自然环境、航路情报进行自主决策和飞行,而地面人员在必要时刻则能随时介入来接管飞行。这代表着TP500无人机是一种“人在回路外”无人机,起飞、巡航、降落整个流程都可以在无人介入的情况下完成,只有在突发紧急情况下才需要人工介入操控。这代表着一个操控站可以同时监控多架甚至十几架无人运输机,且只需要关注飞行状态,极大提升运行效率。

These CGs (presumably provided by the developer) depict the specifically designed fuselage of TP500. The caption in the first CG says "500kg class take-off load, unmanned air cargo covering 500km service radius, max range 1800km".

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dingyibvs

Junior Member
A bit of more in-depth introduction (in Chinese) of the TP500 UAV:
Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!


The author is well known for his pieces on civil aviation in China. He works in civil aviation (likely a ground crew at the Pudong Int'l airport).

TP500 is in take-off load class of 500kg, with a service radius of 500km and max range of 1800km. This is the first, and an experimental, model of a series in the plan. The next model TP2000 which can take off with 2,000kg load is already in development. More capable models are expected to load up to 10,000kg.

The engine is piston to reduce operating cost. According to the developer, the operating cost of TP500 will be comparable to that of the trunk route cargo aircrafts powered by jet engines (such as those based on Boeing 737).






According to the media, TP500 can operate in full autonomy mode in most scenarios, including taking off, cruising, and landing. One ground control crew will be able watch and monitor multiple aircrafts simultaneously and intervene only when needed.



These CGs (presumably provided by the developer) depict the specifically designed fuselage of TP500. The caption in the first CG says "500kg class take-off load, unmanned air cargo covering 500km service radius, max range 1800km".

View attachment 91413View attachment 91414
Interesting. If even a 500kg payload plane can achieve the economics of a 737, I imagine the larger ones will be much cheaper to operate per kg.
 

ACuriousPLAFan

Colonel
Registered Member
A bit of more in-depth introduction (in Chinese) of the TP500 UAV:
Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!


The author is well known for his pieces on civil aviation in China. He works in civil aviation (likely a ground crew at the Pudong Int'l airport).

TP500 is in take-off load class of 500kg, with a service radius of 500km and max range of 1800km. This is the first, and an experimental, model of a series in the plan. The next model TP2000 which can take off with 2,000kg load is already in development. More capable models are expected to load up to 10,000kg.

The engine is piston to reduce operating cost. According to the developer, the operating cost of TP500 will be comparable to that of the trunk route cargo aircrafts powered by jet engines (such as those based on Boeing 737).






According to the media, TP500 can operate in full autonomy mode in most scenarios, including taking off, cruising, and landing. One ground control crew will be able watch and monitor multiple aircrafts simultaneously and intervene only when needed.



These CGs (presumably provided by the developer) depict the specifically designed fuselage of TP500. The caption in the first CG says "500kg class take-off load, unmanned air cargo covering 500km service radius, max range 1800km".

View attachment 91413View attachment 91414
Any specs on the maximum altitude that can be flown and operated by this cargo drone?

If this drone can take off and land on places that are at very high altitudes, then it would be extremely useful for the Himalayan ranges.
 

Atomicfrog

Captain
Registered Member
Interesting. If even a 500kg payload plane can achieve the economics of a 737, I imagine the larger ones will be much cheaper to operate per kg.
To be economical, small payload carrier like that need to land on small airstrips and not big airports where landing taxes would cripple the design. Would be interesting if it can land on grass/unprepared runway.
 

Andy1974

Senior Member
Registered Member
To be economical, small payload carrier like that need to land on small airstrips and not big airports where landing taxes would cripple the design. Would be interesting if it can land on grass/unprepared runway.
It can, the landing gear is swappable. Article also says a bit of straight road works also.

These are very exciting, the larger versions maybe with 2 and 4 engines but carrying 4x and 20x cargo should really reduce the cost of air cargo.

I wonder if Wang Yi was telling South Pacific countries about this kind of upcoming stuff that will surely transform all their lives.
 
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