PLA's Tian Yi drone modified with smaller engines

China has recently modified its Tian Yi unmanned aerial vehicle with two smaller engines and a redesigned nose, according to information revealed by the aircraft's designer, Chengdu Aircraft Corporation, reports American expert in Chinese military development Richard D Fisher Jr in the UK's IHS Jane's Defence Weekly.

The Tian Yi was first displayed in model form to the public at the Zhuhai Air Show of 2006. The drone then appeared at the airfield of the Chengdu Aircraft Corporation in mid-2008 as a medium-sized single turbofan-powered UAV with V-shaped vertical stabilizers.

With a similar look to the Northrop Grumman RQ-4 Global Hawk, the Tian Yi is closer in size to the General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper. Fisher said that a small number of Tian Yi drones had entered service with the People's Liberation Army.

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