NCSIST Cardinal
{{Short description|Family of Taiwanese UAVs}}
File:NCSIST Cardinal UAV 20150815a.jpg
Cardinal is a family of small unmanned aerial vehicles made by the National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST).
Variants
=Cardinal I=
The Cardinal I was the initial prototype of the Cardinal.{{cite web |title=Cardinal Mini Unmanned Aircraft Systems |url=https://www.ncsist.org.tw/eng/csistdup/products/product.aspx?product_Id=19&catalog=9 |website=www.ncsist.org.tw |publisher=NCSIST |accessdate=16 January 2020}}
= Cardinal II =
The Cardinal II began development in 2009 and is based on the Cardinal I but has a better payload design, digital data link, and automatic tracking antenna system. It was exhibited at the 2015 Paris Air Show. In service with Republic of China Marine Corps{{cite web |title=Cardinal II Unmanned Aircraft System |url=https://www.ncsist.org.tw/eng/csistdup/products/product.aspx?product_id=268&catalog=41 |website=www.ncsist.org.tw |publisher=NCSIST |accessdate=16 January 2020}} and Republic of China Army.{{cite journal |last1=Ng |first1=JR |title=Asia-Pacific Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Directory 2018 |journal=Asia Military Review |date=August 2019 |pages=14–27 |url=https://issuu.com/vishmeh/docs/amr_1808 |accessdate=17 January 2020}} Other than military missions the Cardinal II can be used for civil remote sensing and disaster relief missions.
The Taiwanese Navy procured 54 aircraft in 2016.
The components of a Cardinal II system are the aircraft, an antenna, and a ground control box. The Cardinal II is hand launched and recovered by parachute. The aircraft is equipped with an autopilot and can transmit data and imagery in real time.{{cite web |title=Cardinal II |url=http://210.65.127.128/ENG/upload/G_Product_Catelog_Images_635697018567099600.pdf |website=www.ncsist.org.tw |publisher=NCSIST |accessdate=16 January 2020}} The remote control flight range is 8km.{{cite web |last1=Elaine Hou and Kuo Chung-han |first1=Rita Cheng |title=New U.S. drone sale policy could be good for Taiwan |url=https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/201502180005 |website=focustaiwan.tw |publisher=Focus Taiwan |accessdate=17 January 2020}} In service a Taiwanese Cardinal II unit has six primary aircraft and three backups.{{cite web |last1=Strong |first1=Matthew |title=Taiwan military plans Cardinal drones upgrade |url=https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/5911993 |website=taiwannews.com.tw |publisher=Taiwan News |access-date=31 July 2024}}
= Cardinal III =
Cardinal III features vertical takeoff and landing capabilities. It is reportedly optimized for coastal surveillance.{{cite web |last1=Cheung |first1=Eric |title=Taiwan unveils its new combat and surveillance drones as China threat grows |url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/03/14/asia/taiwan-china-military-drones-unveiled-hnk-intl/index.html |website=cnn.com |publisher=CNN |access-date=14 March 2023}} It is intended for operation by the Marine Corps.{{cite web |last1=DOMINGUEZ |first1=GABRIEL |title=Taking page from Ukraine, Taiwan shows off new killer drones |url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2023/03/14/asia-pacific/taiwan-drones-ukraine-china/ |website=japantimes.co.jp/ |publisher=Japan Times |access-date=14 March 2023}} It was displayed at the Taipei Aerospace & Defense Technology Exhibition in 2023.{{cite web |last1=Kajal |first1=Kapil |title=TADTE 2023: NCSIST displays new UASs |url=https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/tadte-2023-ncsist-displays-new-uass |website=janes.com |publisher=Janes |access-date=15 September 2023}}
= Fire Cardinal =
In 2019 NCSIST exhibited the Fire Cardinal for the first time at the Taipei Aerospace & Defense Technology Exhibition. It was referred to by NCSIST as an "air-to-ground assault" UAV, what is more commonly known as a loitering munition.{{cite web |last1=Wong |first1=Kelvin |title=TADTE 2019: NCSIST unveils Fire Cardinal mini-UAV |url=https://www.janes.com/article/90488/tadte-2019-ncsist-unveils-fire-cardinal-mini-uav |website=www.janes.com |accessdate=16 January 2020}} The Fire Cardinal is a twin-propeller drone about four feet long with a six-foot wingspan. It weighs around 15 pounds and includes an electro-optical and infrared sensor as well as advanced target discrimination systems.{{cite web |last1=MAKICHUK |title=Taiwan builds lethal fleet of kamikaze drones |url=https://www.asiatimes.com/2019/10/article/taiwan-eyes-kamikaze-drone-fleet-to-battle-china/ |website=www.asiatimes.com |date=22 October 2019 |publisher=Asia Times |accessdate=16 January 2020}}
Specifications (Cardinal II)
See also
References
{{reflist}}
{{ROC Military}}
{{National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST) aircraft}}
Category:Military equipment of the Republic of China
Category:Unmanned aerial vehicles of Taiwan