China to Feature New Tilt-rotor Drone at Airshow China 2018

The Chinese Academy of Aerospace and Aerodynamics (CAAA) on Wednesday revealed the CH-10 tilt-rotor unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) that will be featured at the Airshow China 2018 in Zhuhai next week.

The CH-10 is a new unmanned aerial vehicle integrating helicopter and fixed-wing aircraft technology, Global Times reported quoting a CAAA statement.

The main mission of the CH-10 is to accompany large- and medium-sized naval ships or army forces and to conduct intelligence, reconnaissance, detection, communications relay, search, target identification, and relay guidance, the statement said.

The drone can take off and land vertically and hover in the air like a helicopter, while as a fixed-wing aircraft, it cruises rapidly and travels a long distance. The shift of flight modes is done through the tilting rotor, the statement said.

It can take off and land on medium and large destroyers and frigates, it said. The development of the CH-10 will also provide invaluable experience for China to develop its manned tilt-rotor aircraft.

The surprising announcement of the CH-10 is indicative of China’s advancement in tilt-rotor technology as only the United States and a handful of its allies have brought this technology to fruition.