NCSIST Teng Yun
| {{Infobox Aircraft Begin
|name = NCSIST Teng Yun |image = File:NCSIST ASRD MALE UAV Display at Hsinchu Air Force Base 20151121c.jpg |caption = }} {{Infobox Aircraft Type |type = Reconnaissance and Strike UAV |manufacturer = National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology |designer = |first flight = Before 2018 |introduction = 2007 start program and 2015 first public exhibition |retired = |status = In development |primary user = Republic of China Air Force |more users = |produced = |number built = |program cost = |unit cost = |developed from = |variants with their own articles = }} |
The Teng Yun ({{lang-zh|t=騰雲|p=Téng yún}}, “Cloud Rider”) is a UAV under development by the National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST) of Taiwan.
Overview
The Teng Yun is a medium UCAV with a resemblance to the American MQ-9 Reaper. The 2019 defense budget allocated funds to build a significant number of Teng Yun systems.{{cite web |last1=Morgan |first1=Scott |title=Taiwan plans military drone fleet to protect coast |url=https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3522082 |website=www.taiwannews.com.tw |date=4 September 2018 |publisher=Taiwan News |accessdate=17 January 2020}}
Development
A prototype was exhibited at the Taipei Aerospace & Defense Technology Exhibition in 2015. An updated model with underwing hard points was exhibited in 2017.{{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}}
In 2018 a Teng Yun being tested was observed by residents of Taitung. Taiwan’s Air Force declined to procure the platform over concerns about the reliability of its electronic systems.{{cite web |last1=Strong |first1=Matthew |title=Taiwan tests largest domestic drone above Taitung |url=https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3404886 |website=www.taiwannews.com.tw |date=13 April 2018 |publisher=Taiwan News |accessdate=17 January 2020}} In response NCSIST introduced an improved model with enhanced thrust, greater-range, more payloads, an enhanced flight control system, and a triple-backup power system. NCSIST has announced that the improved the version of the Teng Yun would commence testing in Jan. 2020 with combat testing to be conducted in 2021.{{cite web |last1=and Emerson Lim |first1=Matt Yu |title=Taiwan to show off indigenous MALE drone at Defense Exhibition |url=https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/201908140024 |website=focustaiwan.tw |accessdate=17 January 2020}} Pictures of the improved version first surfaced in 2020. The improved version has a wider fuselage, a larger air intake, and more closely resembles the MQ-9 Reaper.{{cite web |last1=Chang |first1=Eric |title=Taiwan-made Teng Yun drones spotted at Taitung airbase |url=https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4047109 |website=www.taiwannews.com.tw |date=6 November 2020 |publisher=Taiwan News |accessdate=7 November 2020}} In June 2022 one of the improved variants, dubbed the Teng Yun 2, completed a ten hour test flight.{{cite web |last1=Tai-lang |first1=Yu |last2=Tu |first2=Aaron |last3=Hetherington |first3=William |title=Locally built drone flies around Taiwan in trial |url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2022/06/27/2003780631 |website=taipeitimes.com |date=27 June 2022 |publisher=Taipei |access-date=28 June 2022}}
Incidents
In February 2021 one prototype of the first generation Teng Yun crashed in Taitung Forest Park during a test flight.{{cite web |last1=Lu |first1=Tyson |last2=Lim |first2=Emerson |title=Taiwan's locally-developed military drone crashes; no one hurt |url=https://focustaiwan.tw/society/202102180023 |website=focustaiwan.tw |publisher=Focus Taiwan |access-date=18 February 2021}}
General characteristics
- Primary Function: reconnaissance and strike UAV
- Power Plant: turboprop
- Range: >1,000km{{cite web |title=Taiwan Unveils New UAV Development |url=http://en.c4defence.com/Agenda/taiwan-unveils-new--uav-development/8549/1 |website=en.c4defence.com |publisher=C4 Defense |accessdate=17 January 2020}}
- Endurance: 24 hours
- Ceiling: 25,000 feet
See also
References
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{{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
Category:Medium-altitude long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicles