GAIC UAV

GAIC UAVs are unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) developed by the Chinese Guizhou Aircraft Industry Corporation (GAIC), some of which have entered service with the Chinese military.

Pigeon Hawk

Pigeon Hawk (Ge-Ying or Geying, 鸽鹰) is a fixed-wing UAV developed by GAIC by converting a manned light aircraft. It is mainly intended for tactical reconnaissance.[1]

Specification:[2]

  • Max take-off weight: 700 kg
  • Payload: 60 – 100 kg
  • Speed: 160 – 180 km/h
  • Operating altitude: 500 – 7000 m
  • Endurance: 16 h

Sunshine

Sunshine (Yang-Guang or Yangguang, 阳光) UAV is a fixed-wing UAV in conventional layout developed by GAIC and has entered service with Chinese authorities mainly for remote sensing. There are several features that distinguish Sunshine from the rest of Chinese UAVs; Sunshine adopts a low wing configuration and a retractable tricycle landing gear system. Sunshine is also equipped with a satellite dish communication antenna housed in the bulge in the fuselage, where the cockpit of manned aircraft would be located, so that information such as data and images can be passed down to a command and control center hundreds or thousands of miles away in near real time. Sunshine is powered by a three-blade propeller driven by a tractor engine mounted in the nose, as opposed to most Chinese UAVs that are equipped with a two-blade propeller driven by an engine.

Specification:

  • Wingspan: 14.6 m
  • Height: 2.74 m
  • Length: 7.7 m
  • Weight: 750 kg
  • Max speed: 240 km/h
  • Payload: > 70 kg

BZK-007

BZK-007 is the military version of Sunshine UAV adopted by the Chinese military. The only external visual difference between BZK-007 and Sunshine is that BZK-007 has a fixed tricycle landing gear system. The weight and space saved from the elimination of the retractable landing gear system can be used either for additional payload or fuel, so BZK-007 has a slightly increased range and payload capacity than its civilian counterpart. PLAAF use it as tactical reconnaissance UAV carrying variety of equipment including FLIR, CCD TV cameras and remote sensors.

Specification:[3]

  • Wingspan: 14.6 m
  • Height: 2.74 m
  • Length: 7.7 m
  • Maximum take-off weight: 700 kg
  • Max speed: 230 km/h
  • Payload: 100 kg max
  • Ceiling: 7.5 km
  • Endurance: 16 h

Guizhou Central

Guizhou Central (Qian-Zhong or Qianzhong, 黔中) UAV is another derivative of Sunshine UAV developed by GAIC. The most distinct external visual difference between Guizhou Central and BZK-007/Sunshine is that the fuselage of Guizhou Central is more aerodynamically refined, shaped like a shuttle. The elimination of the bulk in the fuselage means the elimination of satellite dish antenna for long range communications. Guizhou Central is equipped with a retractable tricycle landing gear system, and like BZK-007 and Sunshine, it is also equipped with a three-blade propeller driven by a tractor engine mounted in the nose.

Specification:[4]

  • Wingspan: 14 m
  • Height: 2.6 m
  • Length: 7.7 m
  • Weight: 660 kg
  • Max speed: 160 – 180 km/h
  • Payload: 70 kg max
  • Ceiling: 7.5 km
  • Typical radius: 230 km
  • Endurance: 15 h

See also

References
  1. Pigeon Hawk UAV
  2. Pigeon Hawk
  3. Rupprecht, Andreas. Modern Chinese Warplanes:Chinese Air Force - Aircraft and Units. Harpia Publishing. p. 100. ISBN 978-09973092-6-3.
  4. Guizhou Central
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