China unveiled its new unmanned helicopter that is fitted with various sensors and folding rotors for shipborne use during the 2025 Victory Day parade.
The new unmanned helicopter might be intended as a remote sensor for the PLAN ships with a wide array of sensors, including radars and an electro-optical system.
Compared to previous designs, which have MTOWs of at most a ton, the helicopter is considerably larger, nearing the size and weight of a light utility helicopter. Additionally, to accommodate carriage inside hangars, the main rotor blades can be folded to minimise the occupied space.
The sensors visible from the parade footage are one under-fuselage radar, a pair of fixed radar arrays on the sides with wide coverage, and an electro-optical sensor at the nose. The fixed arrays likely act as SAR, while the under-fuselage radar is meant for the detection of surface targets at long range.
For the powerplant, it is more than likely that a turboshaft engine is used, as multiple radars require high power generation, which can not be provided by internal combustion engines found on smaller unmanned helicopters.
It can be said that the unmanned helicopter bears a degree of philosophical resemblance to the US-made MQ-8C in terms of mission profile. However, the Chinese platform appears to be made for the specific goal of providing surface surveillance, whereas MQ-8C can be retrofitted for other missions like anti-submarine warfare.
Author: Kaan Azman
Editor:Özgür Ekşi
