In a Twitter post, the Asia Managing Editor in the FlightGlobal, Greg Waldron released a photograph of a model of new Chinese TD15 high-speed unmanned helicopter.
According to a released photo, the new high-speed unmanned helicopter is developing by the Beijing Science and Technology Co., Ltd. or also named ZHZ.
The ZHZ presented a concept of the TD15 high-speed unmanned helicopter at the 6–11 November Airshow China 2018 defense exhibition in Zhuhai. The company used Airshow China 2018 to announce it is developing a high-speed unmanned helicopter that resembles very closely to Sikorsky’s S-97 Raider aircraft.
Just like the U.S. S-97 Raider helicopter, the new TD15 will be fitted with twin rigid co-axial counter-rotating main rotors. The helicopter features a retractable landing gear, but unlike the American version, it has the shape of a ski instead of wheels.
The coaxial counter-rotating main rotors and pusher propeller are expected to provide maximum speeds up to 450 km/h.
According to company promo, the new Chinese high-speed unmanned helicopter will be designed for a variety of military missions including light assault, light attack, and battlefield reconnaissance.
The service ceiling of the TD15 is a 6500 m and an operational range of 1200 km.
The TD15. Like the S-97, but no crew, and yet to fly. #AirshowChina pic.twitter.com/oj5GmgRS78
— Greg Waldron (@AsiaJetWatch) 7 November 2018