The reconnaissance and attack UAV of the CR500A helicopter type "Golden Eagle" ("Golden Eagle") with a coaxial arrangement of screws was developed by employees of the Research Department of Technologies for the Practical Application of Computer Technology of the Information Institute of the NORINKO Corporation (Beijing).
The drone was created to provide compact means of reconnaissance and guidance to artillery units of the combined arms armies of the People's Liberation Army of China (PLA), equipped with self-propelled artillery installations of the PLZ-45/PLZ-52 type.
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| Reconnaissance and strike UAV CR500A at AirShow 2021 in Zhuhai. |
| Source: invoen.ru |
According to the technical specification, this UAV is designed for:
- conducting optical reconnaissance during the day and at night;
- highlighting targets with laser designators for the use of high-precision ammunition;
- visual observation of the results of the fire raid;
- providing communication between advanced units;
- self-destruction of single and group targets outside the range of the PLA's CB cannon artillery.
The photo shows that an optoelectronic reconnaissance and guidance station under the designation OC30G is installed in the nose of the UAV. The station consists of day, night and infrared television cameras, a laser rangefinder, a laser designator and a camera. In addition, the UAV can additionally be equipped with a suspended container with electronic warfare equipment, or a CB6 radio signal repeater, or a radar with a synthesized RS2 aperture.
To date, it is known that the CR500A UAV is equipped with a 4-cylinder turbocharged diesel engine of national production (it can run on both diesel fuel and aviation kerosene of the RP-3, RP-5 brands) with a capacity of 150 hp. With a rotor diameter of 6 m, the engine provides the following tactical and technical characteristics:
- maximum speed: 140 km/h;
- cruising speed: 90 km/h;
- flight speed (at an altitude of 5 m) in the "envelope" mode of the terrain: 80 km / h.
- flight time: 5 hours;
- maximum take-off weight: 500 kg;
- maximum payload weight: 150 kg;
- practical ceiling: 4000 m;
- the maximum height of the take-off point (above sea level): 3000 m.
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| The tail section of the CR500A. The engine compartment is visible. |
| Source: invoen.ru |
Thanks to the pine screw scheme, the Golden Eagle reconnaissance and strike UAV is capable of taking off and landing at a wind speed of 25 m/sec. The cost of one CR500A is 1 million yuan.
According to the calculations of Chinese military specialists, one UAV company has 12 CR500A reconnaissance and strike UAVs (i.e. 3 platoons of 4 units each). Their transportation is provided by trucks (2 UAVs in 1 truck).
One platoon of the CR500A UAV consists of: two trucks with drones, one mobile control center, one mobile communication station, one mobile repair shop with a set of replacement spare parts and one mobile warehouse of aviation weapons.
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| A vehicle for transporting two CR500A. |
| Source: invoen.ru |
It should be borne in mind that the mobile station, when operating in standard mode, provides a control range of up to 150 km. In high-power mode, it allows the operator to confidently control the UAV at a range of up to 300 km.
Taking into account the organizational and staff structure, the UAV battalion as part of one combined-arms army of the SV PLA has 36 drones, which makes it possible to carry out reconnaissance and strike operations against armored units of a likely enemy at a considerable distance from the front line.
According to publications, the range of CR500A aircraft weapons includes anti-tank guided missiles:
- "Blue Arrow 5A" ("Blue Arrow", export version of the ATGM "Red Arrow 12", one UAV can carry 4 missiles);
- "Blue Arrow 7" (8 missiles per UAV);
- "Blue Arrow 8" (8 missiles per UAV);
- "Blue Arrow 9" (4 missiles per UAV).
Depending on the ATGM model, one UAV battalion has the possibility of a one-time (sequential) launch of 160 to 320 missiles. In addition, the considered UAVs can use laser-guided bombs BBE-2 and feathered corrected bombs GB-10.
Taking into account the specified number of ATGMs on each UAV, one battalion can form several groups of drones according to the "A + B" scheme. That is, UAVs in groups "A" conduct reconnaissance, while drones belonging to groups "B" carry out ATGM launches without entering the enemy's MANPADS zone. Under ideal conditions, a UAV battalion is capable of destroying an enemy tank regiment while simultaneously cutting off its approaching units within a radius of 50 km.
It is reliably known that UAV battalions can interact with army aviation brigades in order to ensure the safety of helicopter flights in difficult weather conditions (sandstorms, snowfall, fog) and at night over an unfamiliar area or in mountainous terrain.
To date, the CR500A "Golden Eagle" reconnaissance and strike UAVs have entered service with UAV battalions consisting of 73, 79 and 81 combined arms armies of the SV PLA. In addition to the ground forces, these UAVs are planned to be placed on the TFR of project 054A (up to 4 units) and on the UDC of project 075 of the PLA Navy (up to 40 units).
Based on the materials of Chinese specialized military-technical publications