Tengden TB-001

The Tengden TB-001 is a medium-altitude long-endurance unmanned combat aerial vehicle designed by Sichuan Tengden. It is used by the People's Liberation Army.

Development

The TB-001 was first unveiled in September 2017.
In 2020, the three-engined variant of the TB-001 was unveiled, reportedly taking less than six months to develop.

Design

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.

Operational history

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.

Variants

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, payload from 1,200 kilograms to, and flight ceiling from 8,000 metres to 9,500 metres. 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.