China’s Ultimate Combat UAV: The Tengden TB-001

The TB-001, nicknamed the “Twin-Tailed Scorpion”, is operated by the People’s Liberation Army. China is emerging as a leading country in drones. The TB-001, nicknamed the “Twin-Tailed Scorpion”, is operated by the People’s Liberation Army. This is a medium altitude long endurance (MALE) unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) designed by Sichuan Tengden, was first unveiled in September 2017. Recently leaked images show China’s TB-001 carrying a full range of bombs and air-to-surface missiles, showing a potential threat that Unmanned Combat Aircraft may pose on the battlefield.

The TB-001 UAV uses a twin-boom design similar to that of the Lockheed P-38 Lightning fighter. 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. It has a range of about 6,000-8,000 kilometers and a maximum flight time of 35 hours.

The photo of the drone was shared over multiple social media and Twitter accounts, which showed the drone carrying twelve AGM ordnance five each on each wing and two air-to-surface missiles on launcher racks on the underside. In theory, the TB-001 has a maximum take-off weight (MTOW) of over 3,000kg and a service ceiling of 8,000m.

TB-001 has a higher flight altitude than the effective interception range of the short-range surface-to-air missiles, improving the operational safety of the UCAV. This design combines the tops of the two vertical tails to create a flat tail by extending two tail support sections backward on the wing, each joining a vertical tail. A flat tail, a vertical tail, and a tail brace together form a structure.

An electro-optical tracking system is located directly ahead of the ventral missile launchers. As a non-stealth UCAV with a heavy weaρσռ payload, it will act as a ‘Reconnaissance Strike’ UCAV, providing ground support in situations where enemy airpower and anti-air batteries are either degraded or heavily engaged by friendly forces. Combining its own electro optical tracking system along with other friendly stealth drones, fighter jets and ground assets, the TB-001 can be called in to release its payload and fly back.

The TB-001 drone can fire the 20kg AR-2 air-to-ground missiles to destroy light vehicles, enemy personnel on the ground, and other targets. To destroy heavy armored targets and fortifications, Chinese developers have also introduced the 80 kg AR-4 air-to-ground missiles. The AR-4 has a range of up to 20 kilometers and can be launched from a height of 7000 meters, which is far superior to the Hellfire air-to-ground missile of the United States.

Overall, the TB-001 seems to be a very potential UCAV in a campaign in Taiwan, hitting ground targets. 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.