Taiwan Develops Single-rotor Long-endurance Reconnaissance Drone

Taiwan’s National Chung Shan Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST) introduced a new single-rotor drone on November 15.

The unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) was revealed during a demonstration flight on Tuesday. It can automatically plot its own flight route and land autonomously, Central News Agency (CNA) cited NCSIST as saying. It also has a range of more than 30km and can continuously fly for more than one hour.

The drones will enhance Taiwan's real-time reconnaissance and visual acquisition capabilities. They can withstand level-6 winds on the Beaufort Wind Scale and will be deployed for tactical reconnaissance and surveillance missions at sea and near coastal areas, NCSIST added.

Taiwan is expected to purchase 50 sets of the short-range rotor drone for $25.2 million. Army Chief of Staff Chang Yuan-hsun said recently that the Army has already received 14 drones so far.

NCSIST said mass production and delivery is progressing normally.