Taipei, Aug. 14 (CNA) An updated version of the Taiwan-made "Teng Yun" (騰雲) drone, which is currently in development, is scheduled to make its public debut at the Taipei Aerospace and Defense Technology Exhibition (TADTE) Thursday.
The medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) drone was first developed in 2015 by National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST), the primary research and development institution of Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense (MND).
The beta version of the new Teng Yun, Teng Yun, which means "cloud rider" in Chinese, will be available for public viewing at the 2019 TADTE, Taipei World Trade Center Exhibition Hall 1 from Aug. 15-17.
In a pre-exhibit press conference held at the exhibit hall, Chi Li-Pin (齊立平), director of aerospace at NCSIST, told reporters that the prototype of the new Teng Yun is set to leave the laboratory in December.
It will then enter the "testing" stage in Jan. 2020 and combat tests will be conducted beginning 2021, Chi added.
The new Teng Yun has an enhanced thrust, greater-range and a multiple payload, Chi said, adding that it also has an enhanced flight control system and a triple-backup power system.
According to the product briefing, the new Teng Yun is capable of automatic take-off and landing, multi-vehicle control, ground network control and real-time video transmission, allowing it to conduct coastal patrol, environmental research, surveillance and reconnaissance tasks.
The MND will exhibit a total of 81 types of military gear and weapons at the biennial TADTE, including the indigenous "Jian Hsiang" (劍翔) anti-radiation drone that can destroy radar stations along China's coastline, and the prototype of the "Cloud Leopard M2" armored vehicle which has an 81mm mortar mounted on it.
(Cloud Leopard M2 prototype )
President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) and AIT Director Brent Christensen are expected to attend the opening ceremony of the 2019 TADTE on Thursday.
(By Matt Yu and Emerson Lim)
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