Japan Air Forces Intercepts Chinese TB-001 Scorpion Spy Drone near Okinawa.

On Monday, July 8, 2024, a Chinese TB-001 Scorpion reconnaissance and attack drone was involved in a surveillance mission near Okinawa, heightening regional tensions. Operating from the East China Sea, the drone navigated between Okinawa's main island and Miyako Island, then circled over the Pacific Ocean before retracing its initial path. This activity quickly prompted a response from the Southwestern Air Defense Force of the Japanese Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF), which scrambled fighters to track the drone's movements. Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link

The Chinese TB-001 unmanned aerial vehicle conducts flight operations over the Miyako Strait on July 8 2024 (Picture source: Japan's Joint Staff Office)

Developed by Tengoen, a company founded in 2016, the TB-001 is a medium-altitude, long-endurance (MALE) unmanned aerial vehicle. It features a dual-engine setup, with each engine powering a propeller on either side of the central fuselage beneath its high main wing.

This design supports a wide range of armaments, enhancing the drone’s capabilities for both reconnaissance and strike missions. At the 2018 Zhuhai Airshow, the TB-001 was showcased with various armaments, including the C-701/K anti-ship missile and the CM-502 air-to-surface missile. Additionally, Chinese media reports indicate that the drone can be equipped with 40-pound AR-2 and 160-pound AR-4 air-to-surface missiles, as well as the 200-pound AR-3 cruise missile, demonstrating its versatility in combat and surveillance roles.

One notable feature of the TB-001 is its ability to operate beyond visual line of sight, allowing it to conduct long-range missions without direct visual contact. This capability significantly increases the drone’s operational flexibility and effectiveness in various mission profiles.

The presence of the TB-001 in the airspace near Okinawa is part of a broader pattern of increased military activity and strategic positioning in the East China Sea, involving China, Japan, and other regional powers. The deployment of advanced drones like the TB-001 underscores China’s efforts to enhance its reconnaissance and surveillance capabilities and to showcase its technological advancements in unmanned systems.