Warplanes: High Speed UAVs From China

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October 18, 2007: A little known Chinese company, Beijing Black Buzzard Aviation Technology Limited, has offered for sale two new UAVs (PHOTO). Both are powered by a miniature jet engine, larger than the types used in remote control model aircraft. Both models are similar in appearance, and look more like target drones than reconnaissance UAVs. The HFT-40A weighs 100 pounds, is ten feet long, with a 6.5 foot wingspan. It has a top speed of 500 kilometers an hour, max endurance of three hours and can operate 80 kilometers from its base station. The HFT-60A weighs 198 pounds, is 11 feet long, with a seven foot wingspan. It has a top speed of 700 kilometers an hour, endurance of three hours and can operate 150 kilometers from its base station.

This is a unique UAV design, as most users want endurance and slow speed. It's unclear what market these two high speed, low endurance UAVs are being pitched to. The sales people were a little vague on prices, but indicated that they were competitive, and the company was willing to negotiate.