NRIST UAV

B-9H is a development of Drone-9 UAV in the same configuration, specifically designed for naval use, with H denotes Hai-Jun (海军), meaning navy in Chinese. In comparison to earlier Drone-9, modification is made to enable B-9H have night operation capability, and autonomous flight capability according to pre-programmed flight plane. These capabilities are consequently retrofitted to B-9 and its derivatives during upgrades. B-9H is often painted bright orange color for recovery at the sea, and it has slightly faster top speed than B-9 and its derivatives. Specification:[1]

• Max take-off weight (kg): 60
• Payload (kg): 5
• Endurance (h): 1
• Speed (m/s): 80
• Remote control radius (km): 30
• Ceiling (km): 3
• Max wind scale allowed for operation: 5

BJ8607 drone is Chinese UAV developed by NRIST in the 1980s. Development was completed in 1986 and the drone entered limited service with PLA ground force (PLAGF) in small numbers. BJ8607 is no longer in production and is replaced by more advanced drones, and it is believed that all BJ8607 inventory has been exhausted.[2]

JM-1 drone is a jet powered drone designed by NRIST to simulate cruise missiles, and it is intended to train air defense force against cruise missiles. Development of JM-1 was completed in 2000 and entered service in the following year. JM-1 is a low cost drone simple to operate and it can be used as a test vehicle to develop methodologies to counter cruise missile attack. Specification:[2]

• Height (m): 0.558
• Diameter (m): 0.258
• Length (m): 3.12
• Weight (kg): 70 – 90
• Speed (m/s): 220 – 250
• Range (km): 5 – 20
• Recovery: parachute
• Cruise altitude (m):
  • above water: 30 – 50
  • above plain: 50 – 100
  • Rugged terrain: 100 – 200
  • Mountain: 200 – 500

Sky Arrow (Tian-Jian or Tianjian, 天箭) 1 drones are drones developed by NRIST to simulate missiles, and they are mainly used as training support drone to train operators of air defense weaponry. It must be noted that Sky Arrow 1 is not a particular model of drone, but instead, a conversion program / package aimed to convert retired missile to drones as an alternative approach to save money, resulting is saving over a hundred billions of Reminbi in research fund alone.[3] The general designer of Sky Arrow 1 is Mr. Zhang Xian-Long (张先龙), who is also the program manager, leading a team of less than ten people. Because the drone is converted from different missiles, they thus look different from each other depending on which retired missile converted from. Drones converted from cruise missiles look similar to cruise missiles,[4] and drone converted from surface-to-air missiles (SAM) look similar to SAM.[5] Specification (for those converted from some cruise missile):[6]

• Length (m): 3
• Wingspan (m): 1.5
• Weight (kg): 80
• Speed (m/s): 200
• Ceiling (km): 4
• Endurance (min): 30
• Remote control radius (km): 50

Sky Roc (Tian-Peng or Tianpen, 天鹏) UAV is an UAV developed by NRIST in twin-boom layout and high wing configuration. Propulsion is provided by a two-blade propeller driven tractor engine mounted at the rearend of the fuselage, and the landing gear consists of a pair of skids. The drone version of Sky Roc, designated as Sky Roc D with D denotes drone, has been shown at various exhibitions in China. Specification:[7]

• Length (m): 3.4
• Wingspan (m): 4.8
• Speed (m/s): 30 – 50
• Max take-off weight (kg): 120
• Payload (kg): 20
• Endurance (h): > 3
• Remote control range (km): 30
• Ceiling (km): 3
• Temperature range (°C): -30 to +50
• Launch: Rocket-assisted take-off
• Recovery: parachute

Type H drone is one of the early drones developed by NRIST which entered service in relatively large numbers. Type H drone is no longer in production but still in service, and those remain in service has been upgraded. The upgrade program begun in 1992, mainly concentrated on increasing reliability. Full digitized flight control system (FCS) replaced the original analog ones, and remote control system is computerized.[2]

YK7 drone is a drone developed by NRIST in the 1980s. YK7 is a powered by a propeller driven piston engine, and in comparison to drones developed earlier, it is more reliable and easier to operate.YK7 is no longer in service and replaced by more advanced UAVs developed later by NRIST. Experience gained in the deployment of YK7 is later used as part of knowledge adopted to upgrade legacy Type H drones remained in service.[8]

List of unmanned aerial vehicles of the People's Republic of China