China is introducing unmanned helicopters to monitor maritime space
The PRC has put into operation the first pair of unmanned sea helicopters, which will be based in the city of Weihai (Shandong Province) in eastern China and used to monitor the vast waters of the Yellow Sea. Helicopters of the AR-500 model are a completely independent development of the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC).
The new unmanned helicopter has a length of 7,33 m, a width of 1,58 m and a height of 2,43 m. The aircraft carries a payload of 75 kg, has a maximum remote control range of 150 km, a flight range of up to 400 km and a speed of up to 150 km/h . Equipped with advanced equipment such as photoelectric sensors, on-board automatic ship identification systems, infrared thermal imaging, it can perform many functions, including long-distance video transmission in real time and delivery of rescue materials.
- CCTV News reports.
The AR-500's officially stated mission is to control water traffic and respond to accidents and other maritime emergencies. The waters around the tip of the Shandong Peninsula provide passage for ships entering and leaving Bohai Bay ports. About 110 commercial vessels pass through this area of the Yellow Sea each year, and tens of thousands of fishing vessels also operate there regularly.
According to Wang Gang, director of the command center of the Weihai Maritime Security Administration, unmanned maritime helicopters can identify and track offending vessels for law enforcement using aerial photography equipment. In addition, such drones can carry out rescue operations and monitor oil spills in large water areas. But it is noteworthy that CCTV (China Central Television) included information about new unmanned sea helicopters in its “defense” section.
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