Taking a page out of the West's Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) battlefield approach, the nation of Taiwan has locally-developed their own loitering munition option in the "Chien Hsiang" ("Rising Sword"). Loitering munitions have grown in popularity since the start of the 2020s and have more than proven their worth in the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian War (2022-Present). These weapon types, generically referred to as "kamikaze drones" by Western media sources, are essentially self-guided, relatively accurate controllable "missiles" which are wholly-expended in the resulting attack action. As such, they are typically inexpensive to manufacture en masse and are proving ever-popular with even smaller military forces the world over.
The Chien Hsiang is the product of the National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology - NCSIST - and is solely in service with the Republic of China (Taiwan) Air Force (RoCAF). The drone was first unveiled in 2017 as part of a major Taiwanese military modernization effort.
The aircraft takes on a simply "missile-like" form complete with a rounded nosecap, cylindrical body/fuselage, and cut-down tail section housing the conventional engine unit driving a two-bladed propeller assembly (in "pusher" fashion). The mainplanes use a large surface area design with thick roots and natural sweepback leading to upturned wingtip vertical planes ("winglets"). An optics set is seated under the fuselage for unobstructed views of the terrain below.
The air vehicle has a length of 1.2 meters with a wingspan of 2 meters. It is powered through liquid-fueled powerplant and can reach operating speeds of 115 miles-per-hour. The guidance system relies on an Electro-Optical (EO) and inertial fit. Launching is by way of a box launcher unit sat over the rear of a tractor trailer vehicle which can carry some twelve ready-to-launch drones. Beyond this, the drone can just as easily be launched from a static installation or from the decks of warships if a less-mobile or more-mobile (respectively) approach is desired.
Two versions beyond the attack form have been developed by NCSIST, these encompassing a standard air defense decoy model and a more explosive anti-ship variant. The latter is of particular note and would undoubtedly be brought into play during a Chinese amphibious attack on the island.
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(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.
✓Close-Air Support (CAS)
Developed to operate in close proximity to active ground elements by way of a broad array of air-to-ground ordnance and munitions options.
✓Special-Mission: Anti-Ship
Equipped to search, track, and engage enemy surface elements through visual acquisition, radar support, and onboard weaponry.
✓Unmanned Capability
Aircraft inherently designed (or later developed) with an unmanned capability to cover a variety of over-battlefield roles.
PUSHER-PROP
Design incorporates rear-facing pusher-prop arrangement, a contrast to the more conventional puller-prop layout.
WINGLETS
Mainplanes capped with winglets, providing improved fuel efficiency and enhanced handling.
HIGH-ALTITUDE PERFORMANCE
Can reach and operate at higher altitudes than average aircraft of its time.
EXTENDED RANGE PERFORMANCE
Capability to travel considerable distances through onboard fuel stores.
MARITIME OPERATION
Ability to operate over ocean in addition to surviving the special rigors of the maritime environment.
UNMANNED OPERATION
Design features ability to fly sans pilot, actions controlled onboard through programming and / or ground-based operator.
CAMERA EQUIPMENT
Payload supports photographic equipment providing still and / or real-time image / video results.
Length
3.9 ft (1.20 m)
Width/Span
6.6 ft (2.00 m)
(Showcased structural values pertain to the NCSIST Chien Hsiang production variant)
monoplane / mid-mounted / swept-back
Monoplane
Design utilizes a single primary wing mainplane; this represent the most popular mainplane arrangement.
Mid-Mounted
Mainplanes are mounted along the midway point of the sides of the fuselage.
Swept-Back
The planform features wing sweep back along the leading edges of the mainplane, promoting higher operating speeds.
(Structural descriptors pertain to the NCSIST Chien Hsiang production variant)
Installed:
1 x Conventional engine driving twin-bladed propeller unit at rear of fuselage.
(Showcased performance specifications pertain to the NCSIST Chien Hsiang 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)
Warhead in nosecone (entire system is expended in attack action).
Supported Types
(Not all ordnance types may be represented in the showcase above)
Hardpoint Mountings: 0
Chien Hsiang ("Rising Sword") - Base Series Name.
Chien Hsiang AS - Anti-Ship model of 2023; increased lethality.
Chien Hsiang DC - Air defense decoy model.
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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