AVIC AR-500C

History of AVIC AR-500C

China's aerospace industry is making significant strides in unmanned aerial systems (UAS), exemplified by the development of the AR-500C unmanned gyrocopter by the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC). The helicopter, building on the AR-500B model, completed its maiden flight in May 2020 and is currently undergoing further development for high-altitude reconnaissance missions in challenging mountainous terrain.

The AR-500C follows a conventional unmanned rotorcraft design, featuring a main rotor mast above the fuselage, a tail rotor assembly at the tailstock, and a vertical rear wing with curved anti-skid bars. Its fuselage houses mission and operating systems, including traversing optics for real-time monitoring. Equipped with a simple four-point landing solution, the AR-500C is projected to achieve a top speed of 170 km/h, cover a range of 6,700 meters, and sustain a flight time of around 5 hours, with a maximum takeoff weight of 500kg.

The unmanned gyrocopter is designed for versatility, with the capability to operate autonomously or under ground crew control. Moreover, it can integrate into a comprehensive aerial network solution by connecting with manned aircraft. The AR-500C is envisioned to fulfill various roles, including general reconnaissance, NBC data collection, humanitarian assistance, search and rescue (SAR), maritime patrol, and electronic warfare (EW).

Specification

Basics

Years in Service: 2024

Origins: China

Status: Program is running.

Crew: 0

Production: 1

Carrier: China

Intelligence-Surveillance-Reconnaissance (ISR), Scouts: Monitor ground targets/target areas to assess surrounding threat levels, enemy strength, or enemy movement.

Dimensions and Weight

Length: 21.3 feet (6.50m)

Width/span: 24.6 feet (7.50m)

Height: 29.5 feet (9.00m)

Cured weight: 882 lbs (400kg)

MTOW: 1,102 lbs (500kg)

Wgt Difference: +220 lbs (+100 kg)

Performance

Installed: 1 x engine driven twin-blade main rotor unit and twin-blade tail rotor unit (port facing).

Maximum speed: 106 km/h (170 km/h | 92 knots)

Maximum: 21,982 feet (6,700 m | 4 km)

Area: 528 km (850 km | 1,574 nautical miles)