Chinese firm reveals drones equipped with anti-tank missiles
Chinese drone-maker Tengoen has unveiled a new generation of armed reconnaissance unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) equipped with anti-tank missiles at the 14th China-Asean Expo in Nanning, Guangxi province. The UAVs include the TB001 Twin-Tailed Scorpion, which Tengoen has described as the only Chinese-made twin-engine, twin-boom unmanned aerial system in production. The TB001 is 33 ft long and can fly for 35 hours over a distance of 3,700 miles. At present China lags behind other major military powers in drone warfare and has been exploring its options for catching up.

The TB001 is 33 feet long and has a wingspan of twice that. It can fly for 35 hours and travel over 3,700 miles in that time. It is optimized for satellite control as well as an electro-optical targeting sensor. It can also be equipped with armaments, such as small missile launchers, for a total of 220 pounds of ordnance. A mock-up at the UAV show depicted the TB001 equipped with eight anti-tank Norinco Blue Arrow missiles, each weighing 100 pounds.

Also showcased was the TA001, a single pusher-engine UAV meant to carry lighter ordnance. It was about half the size of the TB001.