CASIC HW-600 series UAV
Jet-powered Chinese UCAV series for reconnaissance and strike missions.
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The CASIC HW-600 series is a family of jet-powered unmanned aerial vehicles developed by the 3rd Academy Hiwing (also known as HiWING Mechanical and Electrical Technology Corp) of the China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation (CASIC). The series includes the HW-600 Sky Hawk (also designated WJ-600) and the HW-610, both of which are capable of reconnaissance and ground attack missions.
Background
The HW-600 Sky Hawk (Tian-Yi or Tianying, meaning 'Sky Hawk') is a turbojet-powered UCAV with a conventional high-wing layout and small winglets. Its engine is mounted in the aft section of a cylindrical fuselage, with the air intake located atop the fuselage at the root of a single vertical tail fin. The bulbous nose is presumed to house sensors. Each wing has a single hardpoint designed to carry a variety of Chinese UAV-employed missiles and other munitions.
The HW-600 is also known as the WJ-600; Chinese internet claims suggest that HW-600 designates an unarmed reconnaissance version while WJ-600 designates an armed UCAV version, but these claims have not been verified by official or independent sources. The designation WJ is reportedly short for Wu-Jian (无歼), itself short for Wu-Ren Jian-Ji-Ji (无人歼击机), meaning 'unmanned fighter', as the UCAV can deploy MANPADS as air-to-air missiles. The HW-610 is a development of the earlier HW(WJ)-600, sharing a similar design layout but with two hardpoints (one under each wing) for land attack missiles. Both variants use rocket-assisted takeoff and parachute recovery.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who developed the CASIC HW-600 series UAV?
The HW-600 series was built by the 3rd Academy Hiwing, also known as HiWING Mechanical and Electrical Technology Corp, which operates under China's Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation (CASIC). It is a family of jet-powered unmanned aircraft rather than a single model.
What are the key performance specs of the HW-600 Sky Hawk?
The HW-600 (WJ-600) cruises at roughly 200 m/s, climbs to a 10 km ceiling, and covers an operational range of about 2,100 km while carrying up to 130 kg of payload. Its endurance sits in the 3-to-5-hour window.
What variants make up the HW-600 series?
The series currently includes two main airframes: the HW-600 Sky Hawk (also designated WJ-600) and the larger HW-610, which measures 6.5 m in length. Both share the same jet-powered, multi-mission design philosophy.
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Sources
Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.
- Wikipedia: CASIC HW-600 series UAV (CC BY-SA 4.0).
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