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Chinese UAV News & Discussions (Strictly)

China launches first pilot UAV traffic management program

CGTN
2018-11-20 11:35 GMT+8

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A pilot traffic management program for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) was launched Monday in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province, a cluster for China's commercial drone industry.

This marked that China has its first trial to regulate the UAVs in a certain area and offers a platform for UAVs makers to protect their rights.

Compared to the air traffic control in the traditional aviation industry, UAV traffic management program requires a diverse system of stakeholders that include civil aviation administration, air force and some regulating authorities working together to regulate the market.

The program contains a new online platform for UAV management, offering services such as quick approval of flight applications, real-time flight paths, quick verification of identities and information broadcasting.

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Unmanned helicopter AV500 at this year's China Air Show in Zhuhai. /VCG Photo

China has advanced rapidly in the development of UAVs. The UAV manufacturing industry has been expanding rapidly thanks to extensive use of drones in fields such as surveying and mapping as well as rising individual consumption.

"The numbers of drone programs unveiled in China in recent years has been 'dizzying'," said Sam Roggeveen, director of the international security program at Australia's Lowy Institute.

According to an iResearch report last year, the overall market of UAVs in China is expected to reach 75 billion yuan (around 11 billion US dollars) by 2025.

(With inputs from Xinhua News Agency)
 
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People's Daily,China✔@PDChina
A large heavy lift cargo drone developed by Chinese e-commerce platform http://JD.com successfully completed its maiden flight on Monday. With a load capacity of more than 1 metric ton, the drone is expected to significantly improve logistics efficiency.

9:00 AM - Nov 20, 2018
JD's first large-scale UAV debuts in Shaanxi
(CRI Online) 14:58, November 20, 2018

JD.com has launched its first large-scale unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) at Pucheng airport, Shaanxi Province, Monday, November 19, 2018. The UAV will be used for the company's cargo deliveries.

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JD's first large-scale UAV, JDY-800, takes off from Pucheng airport in Shaanxi Province, November 19, 2018. [Photo: people.com.cn]

The UAV, known as the JDY-800, has a wing-span of 10 meters. It can cruise at altitudes of 3,000 meters at speeds of over 200 kilometers per hour. The JDY-800 can carry up to 840 kilograms' cargo during its flight.

JD.com's plan to develop a large-scale UAV was unveiled in June, when CEO Liu Qiangdong announced the plan through a social media post.

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JD's first large-scale UAV, JDY-800, takes off from Pucheng airport in Shaanxi Province, November 19, 2018. [Photo: people.com.cn]

The JDY-800 has since gone through 5 months of manufacturing, assembling and testing. JD.com has produced the aircraft itself.

"The larger drones can also ferry goods in other direction. For example, farmers on the outskirts of a community can quickly ship vegetables and fruits to the downtown, which will cut down 70 percent of their logistics costs," said Liu Qiangdong.

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JD's first large-scale UAV, JDY-800, takes off from Pucheng airport in Shaanxi Province, November 19, 2018. [Photo: people.com.cn]

Drone delivery is being employed by numerous e-commerce and logistics companies around the world. However, they are mainly focused on small packages.
 
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Just one question ... there is a CH-4, a CH-5 and now the new flying wing CH-7. Is there also a CH-6??
 
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New PLA drone to boost border control
By Liu Xuanzun Source:Global Times Published: 2018/11/29 22:58:43

A professor at the National Defense University of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) revealed on Thursday the first details of China's new armed reconnaissance drone following its debut at the Airshow China 2018 earlier this month.

The GJ-2 is believed to enhance China's border patrol and counter-terrorism efforts.

Made by the Chengdu Aircraft Design Institute under the Aviation Industry Corporation of China, the GJ-2 is a medium-to-high altitude armed unmanned reconnaissance aerial vehicle, Li Wei, a professor at the National Defense University, said in a report published on the China Youth Daily Thursday.

Installed with a turboprop engine, the aircraft can reach a top speed of 370 kilometers an hour at an altitude of 9,000 meters, and can stay in the air for 20 hours, the report said.

The GJ-2 has six weapon bays under its wings capable of carrying as many as 12 small missiles, making its strike capability better than its predecessor, the GJ-1, Li said in the report.

It is also equipped with a reconnaissance system, including a synthetic aperture radar and an electro-optical pod, which can provide more detailed information on the target, the report said.

Wei Dongxu, a Beijing-based military expert, told the Global Times on Thursday the GJ-2 is an enhanced version of a "bomb truck in the sky" that can also provide real-time information to field commanders.

The GJ-2 made its debut at the Airshow China 2018 in Zhuhai, South China's Guangdong Province earlier this month, although the PLA Air Force did not provide details then.

Media reports said the GJ-2 is the PLA version of the Wing Loong II, Chengdu Aircraft Design Institute's latest drone for export.

Wei believes that the GJ-2 is more capable and reliable than the export version.

The PLA version will be better in terms of anti-jamming, battlefield communication and customization potential, Wei said.

China has a long border in high altitude areas like Southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, where patrols are risky and inefficient. The GJ-2 would solve the problem if deployed, the China Youth Daily report said.

It can also conduct counter-terrorism and stability maintenance missions, the report added.

Wei also compared the GJ-2 with US drone MQ-9 Reaper, stressing that while the two are similar in terms of armed reconnaissance, the Chinese drone uses lighter composite materials, allowing it to carry more ammunition.

It is also much cheaper than the US drone, Wei said.
 
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