ChangKong-1
Encyclopedia
The Shenyang BA-5 is a radio-controlled
target drone
developed by the Nanjing Institute of Aeronautics in the People's Republic of China
. It is based on the reverse engineering
of Lavochkin La-17
C drones supplied to the PRC by the Soviet Union
in the early 1960s before all such Soviet technical aid to the nation was withdrawn. Its chief designer was General Zhao Xu and the first example flew on December 6, 1966.
The BA-5 was powered by a WP-6 engine, which was a Chinese copy of the Soviet Mikulin RD-9B turbojet and featured some system changes from the original La-17s used as a pattern. WP-6 turbojet's thrust was massive comparing engine on board La-17, for this reason take-off control and procedure was optimized for BA-5. BA-5 relied on a take-off assistance vehicle before a rocket launching system was developed later.
It also featured a parachute recovery system. Entering service with the People's Liberation Army Air Force
(PLAAF) in the late 1970s, its main mission as a target drone was soon supplemented by a variant to the reconnaissance role, the CK-1A, which had underwing pods for additional equipment used in collecting air samples from Chinese nuclear tests, replacing crewed aircraft in this role.
A CK-1B was introduced into service in 1983 that was optimized for low-level flight and had non-jettisonable underwing fuel tanks. It was followed by the CK-1C, with a much improved control system to provide much more maneuverability, as well as reinforcement to withstand maneuvering stresses, which were further improved in the CK-1E.
Radio control
Radio control is the use of radio signals to remotely control a device. The term is used frequently to refer to the control of model vehicles from a hand-held radio transmitter...
target drone
Unmanned aerial vehicle
An unmanned aerial vehicle , also known as a unmanned aircraft system , remotely piloted aircraft or unmanned aircraft, is a machine which functions either by the remote control of a navigator or pilot or autonomously, that is, as a self-directing entity...
developed by the Nanjing Institute of Aeronautics in the People's Republic of China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
. It is based on the reverse engineering
Reverse engineering
Reverse engineering is the process of discovering the technological principles of a device, object, or system through analysis of its structure, function, and operation...
of Lavochkin La-17
Lavochkin La-17
-References:This article contains material that originally came from the web article by Greg Goebel, which exists in the Public Domain....
C drones supplied to the PRC by the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
in the early 1960s before all such Soviet technical aid to the nation was withdrawn. Its chief designer was General Zhao Xu and the first example flew on December 6, 1966.
The BA-5 was powered by a WP-6 engine, which was a Chinese copy of the Soviet Mikulin RD-9B turbojet and featured some system changes from the original La-17s used as a pattern. WP-6 turbojet's thrust was massive comparing engine on board La-17, for this reason take-off control and procedure was optimized for BA-5. BA-5 relied on a take-off assistance vehicle before a rocket launching system was developed later.
It also featured a parachute recovery system. Entering service with the People's Liberation Army Air Force
People's Liberation Army Air Force
The People's Liberation Army Air Force is the aviation branch of the People's Liberation Army, the military of the People's Republic of China...
(PLAAF) in the late 1970s, its main mission as a target drone was soon supplemented by a variant to the reconnaissance role, the CK-1A, which had underwing pods for additional equipment used in collecting air samples from Chinese nuclear tests, replacing crewed aircraft in this role.
A CK-1B was introduced into service in 1983 that was optimized for low-level flight and had non-jettisonable underwing fuel tanks. It was followed by the CK-1C, with a much improved control system to provide much more maneuverability, as well as reinforcement to withstand maneuvering stresses, which were further improved in the CK-1E.
Variants
- CK-1: basic target drone
- CK-1A: nuclear radiation sampling variant
- CK-1B: low altitude variant for assessing air defense systems
- CK-1C: high manoeuvrability variant for assessing interceptor and attack aircraft
- CK-1E: ultra-low altitude variant
Specifications (CK-1)
External links
- Chang Kong-1 Target Drone UAV - Chinese Defence Today
- CK1 UAV photos and introduction - Chinese
- This article contains material that originally came from the web article Unmanned Aerial Vehicles by Greg Goebel, which exists in the Public Domain.