China Deploys BZK-005 / HY-01 MALE UAV For Reconnaisance of Diaoyu / Senkaku Islands

The Chinese BZK-005 / HY-01 Medium Altitude Long Endurance Unmanned Aerial Vehicles have been observing the area around the disputed Diaoyu / Senkaku Islands with Japan.

The BZK-005 UAV is able to patrol the area for a very long time thanks to its extended endurance afforded by the use of a turbo-prop driven design which is much longer than most other types of aircraft.

The BZK-005 UAV payload is modular and can be fitted with a electro-optical sensor package mounted below the chin. Information can be fed back using the satellite datalink allowing China to keep track of developments in real-time.

The use of UAVs in territorial disputes such as in the South China Sea is one of the advantages China has over other countries which do not possess such abilities or only to a much lower extent. China is also rapidly expanding its fleet and capabilities of its UAVs.

The BZK-005 UAV was developed by the Beijing University of Aeronautics & Astronautics and Harbin Aircraft Industry Group (Aviation Industry Corporation of China) for surveillance and reconnaisance.
The BZK-005 MALE UAV maximum and cruising speed are 180 and 150 km/hr, a ceiling of 7500 m, maximum takeoff weight of 1250kg, payload of 150kg and endurance of 40 hours.

The BZK-005 can be fitted with various sensors, but is not armed unlike other recent UAVs such as the Wing Loong. It was one of the earlier UAVs to have entered service in China and may be replaced in the near future by much more advanced UAVs that are now in the testing phase.

Credit original poster, via Chinese Internet