China continues to assert itself as a leader in the field of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) / drones with a particular eye towards the export market. A plethora of developments have arisen from within the borders of the Asian defense powerhouse, resulting in a market flooded with economically-minded, efficient air systems like the Tengeon TB-001 "Twin-Tailed Scorpion" - or simply "Scorpion" - to compete with more advanced, expensive Western offerings.
The TB-001 is the product of Tengoen Technology of China, a firm founded in January of 2016. Offerings in the company line include the TA-001 "Striking Hawk" as well as the aforementioned TB-001 system and encompass rotary-wing (i.e. Helicopter) unmanned vehicles as well. Both of the fixed-wing designs are cleared to carry combat munitions including air-to-surface missiles and precision-guided bombs.
The Twin-Tailed Scorpion relies on a proven twin engine / twin-boom layout to give it its required performance and operational range, particularly over-water. The system is classified as a Medium Altitude, Long-Endurance (MALE) UAV type.
The wing mainplanes are of monoplane form and straight in its design, capable of mounting various air-to-surface ordnance, and sits atop the rounded fuselage featuring a shape similar to that of the American "Global Hawk" detailed elsewhere on this site. The booms are fitted under each wing mainplane and extend rearwards, joined by a high-mounted, shared horizontal plane connecting the twin rudder panels. Ground-running is through a wheeled, retractable tricycle arrangement, preserving the aircraft's aerodynamic efficiency when in the air.
The engines are of tractor / puller design and drive three-bladed units. The installations are at the tailboom heads and extended just past the wing leading edges.
All told, the aircraft has a wingspan of 65.5 feet and an MTOW rating of 6,000lb. It can fly to altitudes of 26,250 feet for up to 35 hours out to a range of 1,620 nautical miles via SATelite COMmunications (SATCOM).
It is thought that three prototypes have made up the development phase of the product.
Note: The above text is EXCLUSIVE to the site www.MilitaryFactory.com. It is the product of many hours of research and work made possible with the help of contributors, veterans, insiders, and topic specialists. If you happen upon this text anywhere else on the internet or in print, please let us know at MilitaryFactory AT gmail DOT com so that we may take appropriate action against the offender / offending site and continue to protect this original work.
August 2021 - The Japanese Ministry of Defense photographed the TB-001 over the East China Sea during an interception action, leading to reports that the system has achieved some sort of operational-level service with the Chinese military.
(OPERATORS list includes past, present, and future operators when applicable)
✓Ground Attack (Bombing, Strafing)
Ability to conduct aerial bombing of ground targets by way of (but not limited to) guns, bombs, missiles, rockets, and the like.
✓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.
Width/Span
65.5 ft (19.95 m)
Empty Wgt
4,409 lb (2,000 kg)
MTOW
6,008 lb (2,725 kg)
Wgt Diff
+1,598 lb (+725 kg)
(Showcased structural values pertain to the Tengeon TB-001 production variant)
monoplane / shoulder-mounted / straight
Monoplane
Design utilizes a single primary wing mainplane; this represent the most popular mainplane arrangement.
Shoulder-Mounted
Mainplanes are mounted at the upper section of the fuselage, generally at the imaginary line intersecting the pilot's shoulders.
Straight
The planform involves use of basic, straight mainplane members.
(Structural descriptors pertain to the Tengeon TB-001 production variant)
Installed:
2 x Conventional engines in puller configuration driving three-bladed propellers.
(Showcased performance specifications pertain to the Tengeon TB-001 production variant. Performance specifications showcased above are subject to environmental factors as well as aircraft configuration. Estimates are made when Real Data not available. Compare this aircraft entry against any other in our database or View aircraft by powerplant type)
Variable depending on mission type. Believed to support in-service Chinese air-to-surface missiles as well as precision-guided drop bombs.
Supported Types
(Not all ordnance types may be represented in the showcase above)
Hardpoint Mountings: 4
Mounting Points
-
-
-
7
5
-
-
-
4
6
-
-
-
HARDPOINT(S) KEY:
X
15
13
11
9
7
5
3
1
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
COLOR KEY:
Fuselage Centerline
Fuselage Port/Wingroot
Fuselage Starboard/Wingroot
Wing/Underwing
Wingtip Mount(s)
Internal Bay(s)
Not Used
Note: Diagram above does not take into account inline hardpoints (mounting positions seated one-behind-the-other).
TB-001 "Twin-Tailed Scorpion" / "Scorpion" - Base Series Designation.
Ribbon graphics not necessarily indicative of actual historical campaign ribbons. Ribbons are clickable to their respective aerial campaigns / operations / aviation periods.
The "Military Factory" name and MilitaryFactory.com logo are registered ® U.S. trademarks protected by all applicable domestic and international intellectual property laws. All written content, illustrations, and photography are unique to this website (unless where indicated) and not for reuse/reproduction in any form. Material presented throughout this website is for historical and entertainment value only and should not to be construed as usable for hardware restoration, maintenance, or general operation. We do not sell any of the items showcased on this site. Please direct all other inquiries to militaryfactory AT gmail.com. No A.I. was used in the generation of this content; site is 100% curated by humans.
China
