CETC JY-300 (Tian Shao) / (Sentinel of the Sky)

History

One of the many UAV products displayed by the Chinese domestic aviation industry at the Zhuhai Airshow 2018 was the JY-300 Tianshao ("Guardian of the Sky") for medium and long-haul flight endurance (MALE) without Human-machine (UAV) is currently being developed by electronics manufacturer China Electronics Technology Group (China). Specifically designed to assume the Unmanned Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C/AWACS) role, the aircraft features an embedded Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar customized through a patent-compliant device.

The general shape of the aircraft appears to be consistent with General Atomics' Predator product. The nose section is spherical and houses various components related to the controls and general functions of the aircraft - an optical "blister" package is located at the chin.

The hull tapers to the rear, where a pair of vertical fins that slope outwards are located - so there is no horizontal plane in the design. A single, small surface pelvic fin is located below the tail.

The main planes of the wings are closer to the center of the ship, emanating from the sides of the fuselage, which are "kinked" (forming a distinct edge - a common feature of modern "stealth" aircraft). Additionally, these nimble elements feature winglets for added control and fuel efficiency. The propulsion unit is buried in the rear end of the fuselage and drives a three-blade propeller unit (like the American Predator) in a "propeller" fashion.

Non-retractable (fixed in flight) tricycle landing gear for ground operation.

The most unique feature of this drone is the absence of an external radome, which is common on AWACS aircraft around the world. Instead, compatible radar antennas are located on all surfaces of the aircraft, including the leading/trailing edges of the wings and the sides of the forward fuselage, for 360-degree coverage.

Early performance specifications focused on an aircraft capable of flying at 125 miles per hour to an altitude of 24,500 feet with a flight endurance window of approximately 15 hours. Maximum takeoff weight (MTOW) is 2,865 lbs and cargo capacity is 880 lbs. The wingspan appears to be 55.75 feet.

If the JY-300 project comes to fruition, it will mark an important step forward in Chinese drone design and development, ushering in a new era of AWACS (unmanned) control. Not only that, but the country is likely to be willing to export its newfound technology to customers around the world that are often shunned by drone leaders like the U.S. and Israel.

It is said that the first flight of Tianshao took place in late September or early October 2018.

Some of the structural and performance information on this page is the author's estimate.

Specification

Basic

Production

Roles

Dimensions

Weight

Performance

Performance

Armor

Changes