NCSIST Albatross

The NCSIST Albatross, also known as the Chung Shyang II or "Sharp Kite," is a medium unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) developed by Taiwan's National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST). NCSIST began researching UAVs in 2002, leading to the Chung Shyang I and subsequently the Chung Shyang II. A prototype of the Albatross was publicly unveiled at the Taipei Aerospace & Defense Technology Exhibition in August 2005.

Design

The Albatross I features a length of 5.3 meters, a wingspan of 8.6 meters, and a gross weight of 317 kilograms. It is configured with an electro-optical payload for day and night operations, enabling it to conduct surveillance, reconnaissance, target acquisition, artillery spotting, battle damage assessment, and communications relay. The aircraft has a service ceiling of 4,000 meters, a maximum range of 180 kilometers, and an endurance of approximately 12 hours.

Armament

While military officials have not commented on whether the baseline Albatross I can carry weapons, the larger Albatross II variant is designed with offensive capabilities. The Albatross II is compatible with Sky Sword missiles, 2.75-inch rockets, and Mighty Hornet I loitering munitions.

Operational History

The Republic of China Army originally operated a fleet of 32 Albatross UAVs in 2014 before transferring them to the Naval Fleet Command in 2017. The Republic of China Navy conducted its first public fly-over demonstration with the aircraft during a 2019 military exercise in Pingtung. Following a crash in 2019, NCSIST implemented fleet-wide upgrades, completing modifications on 26 aircraft by May 2020. The Albatross has been involved in nine recorded crashes since 2012, including incidents in 2012, 2013, 2016, a January 2018 crash off Taitung due to suspected mechanical failure, and a May 2021 incident where operators intentionally ditched an anomalous aircraft off Taitung County. The Albatross is currently operated by the Republic of China Navy and Malaysia.

Variants

• Albatross I: The baseline reconnaissance UAV features an 8.6-meter wingspan, a 180-kilometer range, a 12-hour endurance, and an electro-optical sensor payload.

• Albatross II: Developed in partnership with GEOSAT Aerospace & Technology, this enlarged variant features a synthetic aperture radar, artificial intelligence-enabled tracking, a 16-hour loitering time, and compatibility with Sky Sword missiles, 2.75-inch rockets, and Mighty Hornet I loitering munitions.