TB-001 Twin-tailed Scorpion
Chinese medium-altitude long-endurance unmanned combat aerial vehicle, developed in the late 2010s, used for military reconnaissance and strike operations. Key figures: range 6,000 km, service ceiling 8,000 m, max takeoff weight 2,800 kg.
| Length | 10 m (32.8 ft) |
| Wingspan | 20 m (65.6 ft) |
| Height | 3.3 m (10.8 ft) |
| Max. takeoff weight | 2,800 kg (6,173 lbs) |
| Powerplant | 2 × turbocharged-piston engine |
| Operational range | 6,000 km (3,728 mi) |
| Endurance | 35 hours |
| Service ceiling | 8,000 m (26,247 ft) |
- Air-to-Surface AR-4
- Cruise AR-3
- Air-to-Ground FT-8D
- Air-to-Ground FT-10
- Guided Bomb 250 kg laser-guided bomb
- Guided Bomb FT-7 glide bomb
- Guided Bomb FT-9 guided bomb
Description
The Sichuan Tengden TB-001 is a medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) operated by the People's Liberation Army. Sichuan Tengden first unveiled the TB-001 in September 2017, and a three-engined variant was subsequently unveiled in 2020 after a development period of less than six months.
Design
The aircraft utilizes a twin-boom design with a straight high-mounted wing. Propulsion is provided by two turbocharged-piston engines mounted on either side of the central fuselage, with each engine driving a three-bladed propeller. The TB-001 has a length of 10 meters, a wingspan of 20 meters, and a height of 3.3 meters. Its avionics package provides a line-of-sight communication range of 280 kilometers with a ground command post, which extends to 3,000 kilometers when utilizing satellite communication data links. Performance specifications include a maximum range of 6,000 kilometers, a service ceiling of 8,000 meters, and a maximum flight endurance of 35 hours when carrying a 1,000-kilogram payload.
Armament
The TB-001 has a maximum takeoff weight of 2,800 kilograms and a payload capacity of 1,200 kilograms. It is equipped with four hardpoints. The platform's compatible munitions include the 250 kg laser-guided bomb, FT-7 glide bomb, and FT-9 guided bomb, alongside the AR-4 air-to-surface missile, AR-3 cruise missile, and FT-8D and FT-10 air-to-ground missiles.
Operational History
In August 2021, the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force detected the TB-001 twice in the East China Sea. During the first sighting, the aircraft flew unaccompanied, while the second flight passed through the Miyako Strait in company with two Shaanxi Y-9 aircraft.
Variants
- TB-001: The baseline variant of the unmanned aerial vehicle.
- TB-001A: An upgraded variant featuring an additional engine on the tail, which increases maximum takeoff weight to 3,200 kilograms, payload capacity to 1,500 kilograms, and flight ceiling to 9,500 meters while shortening takeoff distance to 500 meters.
Identified in 25 sorties in the official China-Taiwan Tensions activity reports between 2022 and 2023 — a floor, not a census: only sorties the source identified by type are counted, and how much it disclosed varies by year.
Frequently Asked Questions
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- JUL 232026 Updated Sources and cross-references refreshed
- JUL 12026 Created Page created: TB-001 Twin-tailed Scorpion