Ziyan of China has developed a complete family of Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) that includes the "Blowfish I" entry. Blowfish is marketed as a multi-mission platform capable of conducting a plethora of over-battlefields roles and tasks with a helicopter-type toolset in mind. This means critical resupply of forward-operating forces, reconnaissance of enemy positions and direct targeting of enemy elements at range. Additionally, such a system has inherent disaster relief / humanitarian capabilities suitable for Search-And-Rescue (SAR) and related roles.
The platform operates from low-to-medium altitudes and features a three-bladed main rotor overhead working in conjunction with a three-bladed tail rotor unit seated towards port side to counteract torque generated by the main rotor. The fuselage is deep and squat, tapering towards the top as the main rotor unit sits low over it. The undercarriage is simple and low-cost, being a four-point skid arrangement and capable of landing on rough, uneven terrain. The tail stem is short compared to the overall length of the fuselage and houses the drive shaft for the tail rotor unit while sporting vertical surface control planes.
Blowfish I is marketed with an all-weather operational capability and capable of navigating complex terrain types (such as urban settings and mountainous). An autonomous, "single-click" return function is built into the UAV for simply recovery and relaunch. The payload capacity reaches 18 kilograms and mission kits are fitted under the belly for easy access / replacement. An optics/sensor fit is managed at the nose under a transparent aerodynamic dome covering.
Dimensions include an overall length of 1.8 meters, a width of 1.9 meters (rotor included) and a height of 0.6 meters. Maximum Take-Off Weight (MTOW) is 50 kilograms. The helicopter can manage cruising speeds of 90 kmh (145 kmh max) out to a range equal to 60 minutes of flying time. Operating altitudes reach 5,100 meters.
September 2018 - It was revealed that the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) of China has taken the Blowfish I UHS into active service.
Specifications
Year: 2015
Status Active, In-Service
Crew 0
[ 25 Units ] : Ziyan UAV - China
China
- Close-Air Support (CAS)
- Search and Rescue (SAR)
- Reconnaissance (RECCE)
- Special Forces
- Unmanned
Length:
5.91 ft (1.8 m)
Width:
6.23 ft (1.9 m)
Height:
2.03 ft (0.62 m)
(Showcased structural dimension values pertain to the Ziyan Blowfish production model)
Empty Weight:
26 lb (12 kg)
MTOW:
110 lb (50 kg)
(Diff: +84lb)
(Showcased weight values pertain to the Ziyan Blowfish production model)
1 x Engine driving three-bladed main rotor unit and three-bladed tail rotor unit.
(Showcased powerplant information pertains to the Ziyan Blowfish production model)
Max Speed:
90 mph (145 kph; 78 kts)
Service Ceiling:
16,732 feet (5,100 m; 3.17 miles)
Max Range:
62 miles (100 km; 54 nm)
(Showcased performance values pertain to the Ziyan Blowfish production model; Compare this aircraft entry against any other in our database)
None.
(Showcased armament details pertain to the Ziyan Blowfish production model)
Blowfish - Base Series Name
Blowfish I
* Ribbons not necessarily indicative of actual historical campaign ribbons. Ribbons are clickable to their respective campaigns/operations.
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