TB-001 (scorpion B) (3d4ba9af-c624-5bee-b5e9-cc4d6b1c084f)
The Tengden TB‑001 (Scorpion B) is a Chinese medium‑altitude, long‑endurance (MALE) unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) built by Sichuan Tengden. Powered by twin turbo‑charged piston engines, it can loiter for up to 35 hours with a 1 000 kg payload and cruise 6 000 km, carrying four hardpoints that accommodate up to 1 200 kg of munitions—including AR‑4/AR‑2 air‑to‑ground missiles, FT‑7/FT‑9 guided bombs and other precision weapons. The twin‑boom airframe integrates an electro‑optical tracking system and a suite of ISR sensors, enabling independent reconnaissance and target acquisition. Since 2021 the PLA has deployed the TB‑001 for intelligence‑gathering, strike missions, and “encirclement” flights around Taiwan, as well as for routine patrols in the East China Sea that have been intercepted by Japanese forces. Its combination of high payload, long endurance, and flexible ISR/strike capability makes it a key asset for China’s regional power‑projection and anti‑access/area‑denial operations.