Tengden TB-001

The Tengden TB-001 is a medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) designed by Sichuan Tengden. It is used by the People's Liberation Army.

Development
The TB-001 was first unveiled in September 2017.

In 2020, the three-engined variant of the TB-001 was unveiled, reportedly taking less than six months to develop.

Design
The TB-001 uses a twin-boom design. It has a pair of turbocharged-piston engines, each driving a three-bladed propeller on either side of the central fuselage, underneath a straight high-mounted wing.

Operational history
In August 2021, the TB-001 was twice spotted in the East China Sea by the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force. In the first encounter, the TB-001 flew over the East China Sea unaccompanied, and in the second encounter it flew through the Miyako Strait alongside two Shaanxi Y-9 aircraft.

Variants
TB-001: Base variant.

TB-001A: Developed from the original TB-001. Upgraded with an additional engine on the tail. Maximum takeoff weight increased from 2,800 kilograms of the original TB-001 to 3200 kg, payload from 1,200 kilograms to 1500 kg, and flight ceiling from 8,000 metres to 9,500 metres (9,000 m sustained). Takeoff distance is shortened to 500 metres and has maximum rate of climb of over 10 metres per second. The maximum flight endurance is 35 hours, the same as TB-001.