Taiwan's primary defence research and development agency has unveiled a prototype of a medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) UAV at the  Taipei Aerospace & Defense Technology Exhibition (TADTE 2019),held from 15 to 17 August.

Teng Yun at TAD 2019 (Picture source: Guy Plopsky)

Teng Yun (which means "cloud rider" in Chinese) 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). A first version of the UAV was unveiled at TADTE 2015.

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 January 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. Teng Yun  possess an operating range in excess of 1,000 km, a flight endurance of 24 hours, and ceiling of 25,000 ft (7,620 m).

Teng Yun is 8 m long with a wingspan of 18 m (Picture source: Guy Plopsky)