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Chinese drones assist African mine surveying
By Zhao Lei | China Daily | Updated: 2017-08-26 07:16
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Operation in Zambia marks aircraft's first overseas mission for exploration

Chinese unmanned aircraft have made the first drone-sbased aerial survey of mineral resources in Africa, according to the drones' producer.

The China Academy of Aerospace Aerodynamics refitted several of its best-selling CH-3 midrange combat/reconnaissance unpiloted planes to be the world's first deployable mine-survey drones and have been using them to prospect for mineral resources in the southern African country of Zambia since mid-July.

So far, the CH-3s have carried out more than 50 flights and flown nearly 32,000 kilometers in Zambia in aerial prospecting operations, the academy said in a news release sent to China Daily.

The project is part of an intergovernmental aid program launched by the Chinese Ministry of Commerce's Agency for International Economic Cooperation and China Geological Survey and was aimed at using drones to survey an 80,000-square kilometer area in northern and northeastern Zambia.

China has used manned aircraft to perform aerial prospecting for other nations such as Cambodia, Indonesia and Laos, and has deployed unmanned planes to survey mineral resources on its own territory. However, this is the first time a Chinese drone has conducted such an operation overseas and is also the first time an African nation has adopted unmanned aircraft to explore mines, the academy said.

The China Academy of Aerospace Aerodynamics is the country's largest exporter of military drones. Its CH series have been sold to militaries in more than 10 countries, making it the largest military drone family the country has exported, according to the academy.

Designers have also developed an array of civilian versions of the CH family. The CH-3 has variants that can fulfill geological and mineral inspection, environmental monitoring and disaster analysis. The larger CH-4 armed drone has unarmed versions capable of executing extended long-range marine surveillance and emergency communications.

Shi Wen, chief designer of the CH series at the academy, said designers made a lot of modifications on the CH-3s used in the prospecting projects, including changes to their flight-control and navigation instruments and aerodynamic frames. The modified version is able to fly very close to the ground and can stay a long time in the air, he said.

During each flight, aerial magnetometers and airborne radiometric detectors mounted on the CH-3 collect and analyze data, providing preliminary information for geological and chemical prospecting.

Shi explained that compared with operations by manned aircraft or ground vehicles, drones make surveying and mapping tasks more effective and economical.

They need less maintenance and fuel than manned planes, create less disturbance and can safely fly over hazardous or inaccessible areas without risks to humans, according to Shi.

Next, the academy will use its drones to prospect mines for Liberia and is in talks with Kenya, the academy said.

Shao Jinqiang, an expert from the Surveying and Mapping Institute under the Guizhou Provincial Bureau of Geology and Mineral Exploration, said the use of unmanned planes has extensively reduced the workload and difficulties in prospecting and has improved accuracy and safety.

zhaolei@chinadaily.com.cn
 
Unmanned attack helicopter unveiled

2017-09-15 08:31

China Daily Editor: Wang Fan

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The Fenglei aerobatics team of the PLA Ground Force performs at the fourth China Helicopter Expo opening ceremony on Thursday in Tianjin. More than 400 helicopters from 22 countries and regions are on display at the expo. JIA LEI / FOR CHINA DAILY The AV500W unmanned autonomous helicopter is on display at the fourth China Helicopter Expo in Tianjin. ZHAO LEI / CHINA DAILY

China is promoting an unmanned reconnaissance/combat helicopter in the international market, further expanding the scope of its military drones offered to foreign buyers.

Aviation Industry Corp of China, the State-owned aircraft giant, has put its AV500W unmanned autonomous helicopter on display at the fourth China Helicopter Expo that opened on Thursday in Tianjin.

The 7.2-meter-long aircraft, developed and produced at the AVIC Helicopter Research and Development Institute in Jingdezhen, Jiangxi province, has a maximum takeoff weight of 450 kilograms, a maximum speed of 170 kilometers per hour and a flight ceiling of 4,000 meters, according to the institute.

The helicopter is capable of carrying 120 kg of weapons and equipment. Its reconnaissance version can remain aloft for eight hours while the reconnaissance/combat model is able to fly four hours.

All of the military drones China has offered to the international market have been fixed-wing models, making the AV500W the first Chinese unmanned military helicopter available in that market, observers said.

An armed AV500W typically carries four air-to-ground missiles, which use radar homing technology for guidance. Each missile weighs 8 kg and can hit a target 5 km away, the institute said. It also can carry bombs or a machine-gun pod.

The helicopter features good mobility, penetration capability and a high level of automation and has a stealth design. A typical mission would be a precision attack on light-duty armored vehicles and personnel, the institute said.

Jiang Taiyu, one of the chief designers of AV500W, said the aircraft fired weapons during its maiden flight test in August.

"The helicopter is able to take off and land on almost any landform including plateaus and canyons. It can operate in cold and tropical environments. It will be useful in border patrols, counterterrorism operations and low-intensity conflicts because it can carry out very-low-altitude penetration and keep hovering for a while," he said.

The designer added that all of the helicopter's tests will be finished before the end of this year and it will be ready for mass-production in 2018.

"Several nations have told us that they are interested in this aircraft. This is because there are a very small number of unmanned helicopters in the world that can perform strikes, while demand for such types is not small," Jiang said. He said only the United States and Israel have developed unmanned armed helicopters, such as the Northrop Grumman MQ-8B Fire Scout in the U.S..

The AV500W's target market will be countries dealing with terrorism such as in the Middle East, he said.

Fang Yonghong, director of unmanned aircraft technology at AVIC Helicopter Research and Development Institute, said many nations in Europe, Africa and the Middle East face huge pressure to ramp up their counterterrorism efforts, so they need good, affordable equipment such as the AV500W.

More than 400 helicopter producers and parts suppliers from 22 nations and regions — such as the U.S., Russia and France — are taking part in the helicopter expo, the largest of its kind in China. They brought 98 aircraft to the event. Helicopters from the People's Liberation Army Ground Force and AVIC conducted flight demonstrations at the opening ceremony on Thursday morning.

http://www.ecns.cn/military/2017/09-15/273678.shtml

@zestokryl
 
Beijing, September 15, 2017 12:27 IST
Updated: September 15, 2017 12:27 IST

http://www.thehindu.com/news/intern...-helicopter/article19689895.ece?homepage=true


The AV500W, its designers say, will be useful in border patrols, counterterrorism operations and low-intensity conflicts
China has put on display its first unmanned combat helicopter AV500W for foreign buyers in the northeastern Tianjin city in a bid to enlarge scope to market its military drones abroad, a media report said today.

Aviation Industry Corp of China (AVIC), the state-owned aircraft manufacturer, has put the reconnaissance-cum-combat helicopter on display at the fourth China Helicopter Expo, the largest of its kind in China.

The 7.2-meter-long aircraft has a maximum take-off weight of 450 kilograms, a maximum speed of 170 kilometres per hour and a flight ceiling of 4,000 meters, the State-run China Daily reported. The aircraft was developed and produced at the AVIC Helicopter Research and Development Institute in Jingdezhen, Jiangxi province.

In addition, the helicopter is capable of carrying 120 kilograms of weapons and equipment. Its reconnaissance version can remain aloft for eight hours while the reconnaissance/combat model is able to fly for four hours.

All of the military drones China has offered to the international market have been fixed-wing models, making the AV500W the first Chinese unmanned military helicopter available in that market, experts were quoted as saying.

For mass production

Jiang Taiyu, one of the chief designers of AV500W, said the aircraft fired weapons during its maiden flight test in August.

“The helicopter is able to take off and land on almost any landform including plateaus and canyons. It can operate in cold and tropical environments. It will be useful in border patrols, counterterrorism operations and low-intensity conflicts because it can carry out very-low-altitude penetration and keep hovering for a while,” he said.

Mr. Jiang said that all of the helicopter’s tests will be finished before the end of this year and it will be ready for mass production in 2018.

“Several nations have told us that they are interested in this aircraft. This is because there are a very small number of unmanned helicopters in the world that can perform strikes, while demand for such types is not small,” Mr. Jiang said.

He said only the U.S. and Israel have developed unmanned armed helicopters such as the Northrop Grumman MQ-8B Fire Scout in the U.S.

Numerous capabilities

An armed AV500W typically carries four air-to-ground missiles, which use radar homing technology for guidance. Each missile weighs eight kilograms and can hit a target five kilometres away, the report quoted AVIC officials as saying.

It also can carry bombs or a machine-gun pod.

The AV500W’s target market will be countries dealing with terrorism such as in the Middle East, Mr. Jiang added.

Fang Yonghong, director of unmanned aircraft technology at AVIC Helicopter Research and Development Institute, said many nations in Europe, Africa and the Middle East face huge pressure to ramp up their counterterrorism efforts and need good, affordable equipment such as the AV500W.

More than 400 helicopter producers and parts suppliers from 22 nations and regions — including the US, Russia and France — are taking part in the helicopter expo.

They brought 98 aircraft to the event. Helicopters from the People’s Liberation Army Ground Force and AVIC conducted flight demonstrations at the opening ceremony yesterday, the report said.
 
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BEIJING: China has put on display its first unmanned combat helicopter AV500W for foreign buyers in the northeastern Tianjin city in a bid to enlarge scope to market its military drones abroad, a media report said today.

Aviation Industry Corp of China (AVIC), the state-owned aircraft manufacturer, has put the reconnaissance cum combat helicopter on display at the fourth China Helicopter Expo, the largest of its kind in China.

The 7.2-meter-long aircraft, developed and produced at the AVIC Helicopter Research and Development Institute in Jingdezhen, Jiangxi province, has a maximum take-off weight of 450 kg, a maximum speed of 170 kilometres per hour and a flight ceiling of 4,000 meters, state-run China Daily reported.

The helicopter is capable of carrying 120 kg of weapons and equipment. Its reconnaissance version can remain aloft for eight hours while the reconnaissance/combat model is able to fly for four hours.

All of the military drones China has offered to the international market have been fixed-wing models, making the AV500W the first Chinese unmanned military helicopter available in that market, experts were quoted as saying.

Jiang Taiyu, one of the chief designers of AV500W, said the aircraft fired weapons during its maiden flight test in August.

"The helicopter is able to take off and land on almost any landform including plateaus and canyons. It can operate in cold and tropical environments. It will be useful in border patrols, counterterrorism operations and low-intensity conflicts because it can carry out very-low-altitude penetration and keep hovering for a while," he said.

Jiang said that all of the helicopter's tests will be finished before the end of this year and it will be ready for mass-production in 2018.

"Several nations have told us that they are interested in this aircraft. This is because there are a very small number of unmanned helicopters in the world that can perform strikes, while demand for such types is not small," Jiang said.

He said only the US and Israel have developed unmanned armed helicopters such as the Northrop Grumman MQ-8B Fire Scout in the US.

An armed AV500W typically carries four air-to-ground missiles, which use radar homing technology for guidance. Each missile weighs 8 kg and can hit a target 5 kilometres away, the report quoted AVIC officials as saying.

It also can carry bombs or a machine-gun pod.

The AV500W's target market will be countries dealing with terrorism such as in the Middle East, Jiang said.

Fang Yonghong, director of unmanned aircraft technology at AVIC Helicopter Research and Development Institute, said many nations in Europe, Africa and the Middle East face huge pressure to ramp up their counter terrorism efforts and need good, affordable equipment such as the AV500W.

More than 400 helicopter producers and parts suppliers from 22 nations and regions including the US, Russia and France are taking part in the helicopter expo.

They brought 98 aircraft to the event. Helicopters from the People's Liberation Army Ground Force and AVIC conducted flight demonstrations at the opening ceremony yesterday, the report said.
See the Source>>
 
China displays its first unmanned attack helicopter
PTI|Updated: Sep 15, 2017, 12.22 PM IST
china-displays-its-first-unmanned-attack-helicopter.jpg

BEIJING: China has put on display its first unmanned combat helicopter AV500W for foreign buyers in the northeastern Tianjin city in a bid to enlarge scope to market its military drones abroad, a media report said today.

Aviation Industry Corp of China (AVIC), the state-owned aircraft manufacturer, has put the reconnaissance cum combat helicopter on display at the fourth China Helicopter Expo, the largest of its kind in China.

The 7.2-meter-long aircraft, developed and produced at the AVIC Helicopter Research and Development Institute in Jingdezhen, Jiangxi province, has a maximum take-off weight of 450 kilogrammes, a maximum speed of 170 kilometres per hour and a flight ceiling of 4,000 meters, state-run China Daily reported.

The helicopter is capable of carrying 120 kilogrammes of weapons and equipment. Its reconnaissance version can remain aloft for eight hours while the reconnaissance/combat model is able to fly for four hours.

All of the military drones China has offered to the international market have been fixed-wing models, making the AV500W the first Chinese unmanned military helicopter available in that market, experts were quoted as saying.

Jiang Taiyu, one of the chief designers of AV500W, said the aircraft fired weapons during its maiden flight test in August.

"The helicopter is able to take off and land on almost any landform including plateaus and canyons. It can operate in cold and tropical environments. It will be useful in border patrols, counterterrorism operations and low-intensity conflicts because it can carry out very-low-altitude penetration and keep hovering for a while," he said.

Jiang said that all of the helicopter's tests will be finished before the end of this year and it will be ready for mass-production in 2018.

"Several nations have told us that they are interested in this aircraft. This is because there are a very small number of unmanned helicopters in the world that can perform strikes, while demand for such types is not small," Jiang said.

He said only the US and Israel have developed unmanned armed helicopters such as the Northrop Grumman MQ-8B Fire Scout in the US.

An armed AV500W typically carries four air-to-ground missiles, which use radar homing technology for guidance. Each missile weighs 8 kilogrammes and can hit a target 5 kilometres away, the report quoted AVIC officials as saying.

It also can carry bombs or a machine-gun pod.

The AV500W's target market will be countries dealing with terrorism such as in the Middle East, Jiang said.

Fang Yonghong, director of unmanned aircraft technology at AVIC Helicopter Research and Development Institute, said many nations in Europe, Africa and the Middle East face huge pressure to ramp up their counterterrorism efforts and need good, affordable equipment such as the AV500W.

More than 400 helicopter producers and parts suppliers from 22 nations and regions including the US, Russia and France are taking part in the helicopter expo.

They brought 98 aircraft to the event. Helicopters from the People's Liberation Army Ground Force and AVIC conducted flight demonstrations at the opening ceremony yesterday, the report said.
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com...ed-attack-helicopter/articleshow/60525657.cms
 
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