NRIST Unmanned Helicopters

{|{{Infobox Aircraft Begin
|name=Unmanned helicopters
|image=
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}}{{Infobox Aircraft Type
| type= [[UAV]]
| national origin= [[China]]
| manufacturer= NRIST
| designer=NRIST
| first flight=
| introduced=
| retired=
| status= In service
| primary user= [[China]]
| number built=
| developed from=
| variants with their own articles=
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NRIST unmanned helicopters are Chinese [[UAV]]s developed by [http://www.nrist.com/ Nanjing Research Institute of Simulation Technology (南京模拟技术研究所)] (NRIST), also known as the 60th Research Institute of [[People's Liberation Army General Staff Department]] (总参六十所), an [[ISO 9000|ISO 9001]] ceritified research/production facility headquartered in [[Nanjing]].

==Z-1==
Z-1 is an unmanned helicopter developed by NRIST and it is the first attempt to incorporate additional mission capabilities in addition to being a drone. Z-1 is in conventional layout and can carry payload.<ref>[http://file.lw23.com/2/24/24a/24ae2319-8996-46cc-9c73-3362979a068f.pdf Z-1]</ref> Z-1 is no longer in service, having been replaced by more advanced version, Z-2, which in turn, eventually superseded by Z-3 Sky Hawk 3. Z-1 program begun in 1984, four years after the larger Z-2 begun, but Z-2 program was put on hold, and priority was given to smaller Z-1. After completion of the Z-1 development, Z-2 program resumed based on the experience gained from Z-1.<ref name="Z-1&2">{{cite web| url=http://www.huaxia.com/js/jsgc/jswz/00020916.html | title=Z-3 superseding Z-1 & Z-2 | accessdate=Jun 11, 2002 }}</ref>

==Z-2==
Z-2 is an unmanned helicopter developed by NRIST and it is the development of earlier Z-1. Like earlier Z-1, Z-2 is also in conventional helicopter layout,<ref>[http://military.china.com/zh_cn/dljl/10/picture/1534/20001109/20659.html Z-2]</ref> and like its predecessor Z-1, Z-2 is also remotely controlled. Landing gear of Z-2 consists of a pair of skids, which is the most obvious external visual difference between Z-2 and Z-1, which still retains the wheeled landing gear of earlier I-2 drone. Like its predecessor Z-1, Z-2 is no longer in production either, superseded by its successor Z-3 Sky Hawk 3. However, some legacy Z-2 might still in service before being phased out. Originally, program begun in 1980, but it was later decided to wait, and the smaller Z-1 was given priority first. After the development of Z-1 was complete, development of Z-2 resumed based on experience of the smaller Z-1.<ref name="Z-1&2"/><ref name="NRIST">{{cite web| url=http://www.huaxia.com/js/jsgc/jswz/00020916.html | title=NRIST unmanned helicopters | accessdate=Jun 11, 2002 }}</ref>

==WZ-3 Sky Hawk 3==
Originally designated as Z-3, the designation is changed WZ-3 to avoid confusion with manned helicopter with designation also starts with Z. W standards for Wu-Ren (无人), meaning unmanned. WZ-3 Sky Hawk 3 (Tian-Ying 3 or Tianying 3, 天鹰) is an unmanned helicopter in conventional helicopter layout with a pair of skids as landing gear. Z-3 Sky Hawk 3 is equipped with fiber optic gyro and [[GPS]] navigation, and it is developed from earlier Z-2, with technologies of [[Yamaha Corporation]], a Japanese remote control airplane manufacturer, whose products were sold to China and some of which has been reverse engineered. Z-3 Sky Hawk 3 is intended for various duties such as aerial cinemantograhy / patrol / photography / surveying, and it is also intended for communication relay. Various payload can be carried based on the mission requirement. Specification:<ref name="NRIST"/>
*Main rotor diamter (m): 3.4
*Tail rotor diameter (m): 0.6
*Length (m): 3.7
*Width (m): 0.7
*Height (m): 1.1
*Max take-off weight (kg): 100
*Payload (kg): 20
*Endurance (h): 1 – 2
*Temperature range (°C): -20 to +50
*Propulsion: CYS-350F
*Remote control radius (km): 50

==WZ-5 Sky Hawk 5==
Originally designated as Z-5, the designation is changed WZ-5 to avoid confusion with manned helicopter [[Harbin Z-5|Z-5]] with W standards for Wu-Ren (无人), meaning unmanned. WZ-5 Sky Hawk 5 is the larger cousin of the smaller Z-3 Sky Hawk 3 developed earlier. Like its smaller cousin, Z-5 Sky Hawk 5 is intended for various missions and it is also in conventional helicopter layout with a pair of skids as landing gear. Specification:<ref>[http://www.cqzg.cn/viewthread-1732724.html Z-5 Sky Hawk 5]</ref>
*Max speed (m/s): 50
*Max speed in autonomous flight (m/s): 35
*Ceiling (km): 2.5
*Max take-off weight (kg): 450
*Payload (kg): 60 – 100
*Endurance (h): 3 – 6
*Temperature range (°C): -20 to +50
*Max wind scale allowed for operation: 6
*Remote control radius (km): 30 – 100

==WZ-6B==
WZ-6B is the largest unmanned helicopter developed by NRIST as of mid-2014. The existence of WZ-8 is revealed when it made its public debut in June 2014 at the 5th UAV Exhibition held in [[Beijing]]. WZ-6B is the naval version of WZ-6, and it is specifically developed for naval use on board ships. WZ-6B is equipped with fishhook type ship landing system and it is intended for various mission such as reconnaissance, electronic warfare and surveillance missions. WZ-6B is in conventional helicopter layout with a pair of skids as landing gear.<ref>[http://www.dragonmil.com/html/20147/10/pdea7_7.html#pic WZ-6B unmanned helicopter]</ref> Specification:<ref>[http://vimeo.com/100305976 WZ-6B]</ref><ref>[http://www.dragonmil.com/html/20147/10/pdea7_9.html#pic WZ-6B UAV]</ref>
*Length (m): 9.56
*Height (m): 2.5
*Endurance (h): 8
*Max take-off weight (t): 1.6
*Payload (kg): 250
*Ceiling (km): 5
*Max speed (km/h): 220+
*Cruise speed (km/h): 200

==See also==
[[List of unmanned aerial vehicles of the People's Republic of China]]

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

[[Category:Unmanned aerial vehicles]]
[[Category:Unmanned aerial vehicles of China]]