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.