The Tendgen TW is a series of cargo-delivery-minded Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) promoted by China in 2018 during the Zhuhai Air Show. The displayed mockup (model "TW356") was shown in an all-black finish with a pair of underslung turboprop engines bookending the slab-sided fuselage. The engines each drive five-bladed propeller units seated behind large spinenrs. The wing mainplanes are high-mounted and the wheeled tricycle undercarriage is wholly retractable in the design.
A dimensionally larger and heavier form of the TW has been identified as the TW765 and sports enhanced cargo-hauling capabilities in the 22-ton class as well as an operating range out to 7,500 kilometers.
Beyond their heavy cargo delivery capability, the "mission module" approach to the TW series allows the single vehicle to be equipped for the Intelligence-Surveillance-Reconnaissance (ISR) and Electronic Warfare (EW) roles - further enhancing its tactical and strategic value. The "Balance Beam" early-warning radar (as used in the KJ-200 platform) is a supported equipment option.
(OPERATORS list includes past, present, and future operators when applicable)
✓Transport
General transport functionality to move supplies/cargo or personnel (including wounded and VIP) over range.
✓Intelligence-Surveillance-Reconnaissance (ISR), Scout
Surveil ground targets / target areas to assess environmental threat levels, enemy strength, or enemy movement.
✓Unmanned Capability
Aircraft inherently designed (or later developed) with an unmanned capability to cover a variety of over-battlefield roles.
MTOW
132,277 lb (60,000 kg)
(Showcased structural values pertain to the Tengden TW765 production variant)
Installed:
2 x Turboprop engines of unknown make, model, and output power driving five-bladed propeller units.
None. Payload restricted to general cargo loads or Intelligence-Surveillance-Reconnaissance (ISR) and Electronic Warfare (EW) equipment by way of "mission module".
TW - Base Series Designation.
TW356 - Base model.
TW765 - Large Model with greater cargo-hauling capability (22 tons); 7,500km operating range.
Ribbon graphics not necessarily indicative of actual historical campaign ribbons. Ribbons are clickable to their respective aerial campaigns / operations / aviation periods.
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