Engineering:Hexiang UAV

Hexiang UAVs are Chinese UAVs developed by Beijing Hexiang (meaning Cranes Soar) General Aviation Technology Co., Ltd. (Hexiang, 北京鹤翔通航航空科技有限公司) and its divisions and subsidiaries, including Beijing Black Buzzard Aviation Technology Co., Ltd. (北京黑蜂航空科技公司). Some of the Hexiang manufactured UAVs are jointly developed and/or co-produced with Beijing Huan-Yu (meaning the world) Wen-Ding (meaning challenging the champion) Aviation Technology Co., Ltd. (HYWD, 北京寰宇问鼎航空技术有限公司), after the two companies entered partnership in April 2006.

FH-100

FH-100 was first developed as a high speed drone to simulate cruise missiles and low observable aircraft at subsonic speed. It is also used as a test vehicle to support air defense and air-to-air weaponry development. Subsequently, FH-100 is modified to perform reconnaissance and electronic warfare missions. The complete name for FH-100 is high speed, high maneuverability, UAV platform.

HFT-40A

HFT-40A is a low observable subsonic speed jet-propelled UAV with twin tail and low wing configuration. The turbojet is installed atop of the rear section of the fuselage. Although initially designed as high speed drone, it is also marketed as a surveillance asset. Specification:

• Speed: 500 km/h
• Weight: 45 kg
• Length: 3.23 m
• Wingspan: 2.1 m
• Endurance: 3 h
• Normal operation radius: 80 km

HFT-60A

HFT-60A is the larger cousin of the smaller HFT-40A and both have the same design layout. In addition to size, the main difference between HFT-40A and HFT-60A is in their respective power plant: HFT-60A is powered by a VWP-60, a 60 kgf micro turbojet engine, while HFT-40A is powered by VWP-40, a 40 kgf micro turbojet engine. Like its smaller cousin HFT-40A, HFT-60A is also developed by Beijing Black Buzzard Aviation Technology Co., Ltd. (The exact literal translation of the name of the division/subsidiary is actually Black Bee instead of Black Buzzard).

• Speed: 600 km/h
• Weight: 90 kg
• Length: 3.43 m
• Wingspan: 2.3 m
• Endurance: > 3 h
• Normal operation radius: 150 km

HX-1

HX-1 UAV is the first member of HX series UAVs, which are developed by the Wuxi division/subsidiary of Hexiang. Maiden flight of HX-1 was completed on October 15, 2011, which lasted around three minutes in a total of 6.42 km in a rectangular flight path. Specification:

• Wingspan: 3 m
• Length: 2 m
• Speed: 108 km/h
• Weight: 20 kg
• Ceiling: 6 km
• Min operating altitude: 100 m
• Fuel: 4 L
• Endurance: 2 – 3 h
• Power plant: gasoline engine
• Take-off and landing: taxiing
• Tak-off distance: 150 m

HX-2

HX-2 is another fixed-wing member of HX series, which is developed based on the experience and customer feedback from HX-1, and like its predecessor HX-1, it is also developed by the Wuxi division/subsidiary of Hexiang. HX-2 has been deployed by Chinese authorities in archeological missions, and in comparison to other ground-based methods, UAVs can reduce the time need by two third, thus significantly redues cost.

HX-3

HX-3 is a fixed-wing UAV developed by HX with rather unusual layout in that it adopts a joined wing design, and this design makes HX-3 has almost the exact layout like SAC Soar Goose, another Chinese UAV. HX-3 has a wide tricycle landing gear system, indicating that it would operate from unprepared strips. HX-3 is also known as HF Mineral UAV because it has been deployed in mineral survey missions.

WD-100

WD-100 (WD = Wen Ding, 问鼎, meaning challenging the champion) is an unmanned helicopter developed by its division/subsidiary in Hebi. WD100 has a conventional helicopter layout and it is based on American Sportscopter Ultrasport 331 manned helicopter. Maden flight of WD100 is completed on January 28, 2008. WD-100 will be produced by Beijing Jin-Peng-Da Aviation Science and Technology Co., Ltd. (Jinpengda, 北京金朋达航空科技有限公司), a provider of UAV subsystem, flight software and simulation systems in Fangshan District. Specification:

• Weight: 240 kg
• Height: 2.4 m
• Length: 5.8 m

WD-200

WD-200 is developed after the successful development of WD100. WD200 is an unmanned helicopter in conventional helicopter layout and it is based on American Ultrasport 496 manned helicopter, with domestic Chinese autonomous flight control system incorporated. Like WD-100, WD-200 will also be produced by Jinpengda in its newly built facilities in Fangshan District of Beijing. Specification:

• Length (m): 6
• Height (m): 2.2
• Empty weight (kg): 225
• Max take-off weight (kg): 493
• Engine: 95 hp
• Endurance (h): 2.25
• Ceiling (km): 3.6
• Cruise speed (km/h): 105
• Max speed (km/h): 158

See also

• List of unmanned aerial vehicles of the People's Republic of China