The Asia-Pacific regional market for UAVs is a complex mix of indigenously developed designs and platforms acquired from external suppliers, but which country is taking the lead in this key sector? Gordon Arthur reports.

亚太地区无人机市场是由外部供应商获得的自主开发设计和平台组成的复杂组合，但哪个国家在这个关键领域处于领先地位？戈登•亚瑟报告。

 

This is an early mock-up of the Teng Yun MALE UAV from NCSIST in Taiwan. Despite technical hurdles, series production is edging closer. Credit: Author

这是中国台湾地区NCSIST公司的“腾云”（Teng Yun）中空长航时(MALE)无人机的早期模型。尽管存在技术上的障碍，但正在逐步接近系列生产。署名：作者

 

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine provided militaries a timely reminder that uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAV) are a vital capability, whether for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) or carrying weapons for precision strikes.

俄罗斯军事打击乌克兰及时提醒军方，无人机是一种至关重要的能力，无论是用于情报、监视和侦察，还是携带武器进行精确打击。

 

Asia-Pacific militaries have similarly been reminded of shortcomings in their UAV inventories. Countries like Australia and India are in the midst of important procurements, while others such as China, South Korea and Taiwan are already developing and manufacturing advanced systems.

亚太地区的军队也同样被提醒其无人机库存的不足。澳大利亚和印度等国正在进行重要的采购，其他如中国大陆、韩国和中国台湾地区等已经在开发和制造先进的系统。

 

Australia’s uncrewed mix

澳大利亚无人机的混搭

 

Australia’s military is pursuing both imported and indigenously developed UAVs. An eye-catching platform at the recent Avalon Airshow 2023 was Boeing Defence Australia’s MQ-28A Ghost Bat. This loyal wingman has made substantive progress since its 2019 debut; it achieved its maiden flight in February 2021, and the first systems could enter Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) service in 2024/25.

澳大利亚军方正在追求进口和自主开发的无人机。在最近的2023年阿瓦隆航展上，一个引人注目的平台是澳大利亚国防公司的MQ-28A“幽灵蝙蝠”。这种忠诚僚机自2019年首次亮相以来取得了实质性进展；它在2021年2月实现了首次飞行，首批系统可能在2024/25年进入澳大利亚皇家空军（RAAF）服役。

 

In May 2022, Canberra promised seven additional MQ-28As would be procured for $319.3m, on top of three aircraft ordered in March 2021. Export prospects are part of Boeing Defence Australia’s ambitions, although the RAAF as launch customer remains the focus.

2022年5月，堪培拉承诺，除了2021年3月订购的三架飞机外，还将以3.193亿美元的价格采购七架MQ-28A。出口前景是波音防务澳大利亚公司雄心的一部分，尽管澳大利亚皇家空军作为启动客户仍然是重点。

 

Boeing Defence Australia debuted the MQ-28A Ghost Bat loyal wingman at Avalon Airshow 2019. Four years later, it displayed a flight-capable test-bed. Credit: Author

澳大利亚波音国防公司在2019年阿瓦隆航展上首次亮相了MQ-28A“幽灵蝙蝠”忠诚僚机。四年后，它展示了一个有飞行能力的试验平台。署名：作者

 

More than 70% of the 11.7m-long aircraft comes from Australian suppliers. It has a range of 3,700km and possesses an internal payload bay, the plan being that they work alongside fighters to gather data, jam enemy radars/communications and launch attacks.

这架11.7米长的飞机中，70%以上来自澳大利亚供应商。它的航程为3700公里，拥有一个内部有效载荷舱，计划是与战斗机一起收集数据，干扰敌方雷达/通信并发动攻击。

 

BAE Systems Australia unveiled its ungainly-looking Strix at Avalon Airshow 2023, just seven months after the concept was mooted. The Strix is a hybrid tandem-winged unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV), with partner Innovaero Technologies now constructing a prototype in Western Australia for a maiden flight in Q4. This is extremely rapid development, with BAE Systems wanting the Strix operationally ready by 2025-26.

澳大利亚BAE系统公司在2023年阿瓦隆航展上公布了其外观笨拙的“斯瑞克斯”（STRIX），就在该概念提出七个月后。“斯瑞克斯”是一款混合式串联翼无人机（UCAV），其合作伙伴创新航空技术公司（Innovaero Technologies）目前正在西澳大利亚制造原型机，将于第四季度进行首飞。这是一个非常快速的发展，BAE系统公司希望“斯瑞克斯”在2025-26年前投入使用。

 

Kisa Christensen, BAE Systems Australia’s director of Red Ochre Autonomy and Sensors, explained: “Our teams in essence have created a platform that has three dimensions. It is disruptive, adaptable and deployable.”

澳大利亚BAE系统公司的红赭石自主和传感器主管基萨·克里斯坦森解释说：“我们的团队本质上创造了一个三维的平台。它具有颠覆性、适应性和可部署性。”

 

Designed to operate from space-constrained sites or naval vessels (a system fits inside a 20-foot container), the VTOL Strix is aimed at both domestic and export markets. Developed wholly within Australia, it can perform anti-submarine warfare, armed escort of helicopters, ISR, border surveillance, electronic warfare and precision strikes.

垂直起降(VTOL)“斯瑞克斯”设计用于在空间受限的场地或海军舰艇上操作（一个可安装在20英尺集装箱内的系统），面向国内和出口市场。它完全在澳大利亚境内开发，可以执行反潜战、直升机武装护航、ISR、边境监视、电子战和精确打击。

 

In flight the Strix can reach 200kt (cruise speed is 140kt) via a gas turbine and four electrically powered variable-pitch propellers. In purely ISR configuration, it can fly 1,600km, the range reducing to 500km with a 250kg payload. The lead engineer told Global Defence Technology that the gull wings may be straightened later if smaller propellers are adopted.

在飞行中，“斯瑞克斯”可以通过一个燃气轮机和四个电动可变螺距螺旋桨达到200公里（巡航速度为140公里）。在纯粹的ISR配置中，它可以飞行1600公里，有效载荷为250公斤，航程降至500公里。首席工程师告诉《全球防务技术》，如果采用较小的螺旋桨，鸥翼式机翼稍后可能会被拉直。

 

BAE Systems Australia unveiled its odd-looking hybrid tandem-wing Strix UCAV at Avalon Airshow 2023. It has a 900kg maximum take-off weight. Credit: Author

澳大利亚BAE系统公司在2023年阿瓦隆航展上公布了其外观奇特的混合串联翼“斯瑞克斯”无人机。它的最大起飞重量为900公斤。署名：作者

 

Although the Ghost Bat and Strix represent Australian innovation, the country’s military still relies on foreign platforms. For example, Elbit Systems announced last December its Skylark I-LEX had been procured by the Australian Army.

尽管“幽灵蝙蝠”和“斯瑞克斯”代表了澳大利亚的创新，但该国的军队仍然依赖外国平台。例如，埃尔比特系统公司去年12月宣布，它的“云雀”I-LEX已被澳大利亚陆军采购。

 

The army is upgrading capabilities via Project Land 129 Phase 3 too, for which Insitu Pacific is supplying Integrators to replace Shadow 200s. A $223.4m contract will see 24 aircraft delivered in 2023-24. Although the Integrator is American, Insitu Pacific predicts indigenous content will reach 82%. More than 20 local suppliers include Orbital UAV for V3 engines, and Ascent Vision Technologies for CM234 Spitfire gimbals.

陆军也在通过Land 129项目第三阶段升级能力，Insitu Pacific公司正在为其提供“综合者”(Integrator)，以取代“影子200”无人机。根据2.234亿美元的合同，2023-24年将交付24架飞机。尽管“综合者“是美国的，但Insitu Pacific公司预测本土含量将达到82%。20多家当地供应商包括用于V3发动机的Orbital UAV公司和用于CM234变形万向节战术无人机载荷的阿森特视觉技术公司（Ascent Vision Technologies）。

 

Andrew Duggan, Insitu Pacific’s managing director, noted: “They’ve got a pretty aggressive plan to make sure the technology keeps getting refreshed rapidly.” Duggan explained it will be necessary to upgrade sensors every 2-3 years, whereas airframes have a ten-year lifespan.

Insitu Pacific公司董事总经理安德鲁·达根指出：“他们有一个非常积极的计划，以确保技术不断快速更新。”达根解释说，有必要每2-3年升级一次传感器，而机身的使用寿命为十年。

 

As for the Royal Australian Navy (RAN), last year it selected Schiebel’s S-100 Camcopter as its shipboard platform. Raytheon Australia heads the fast-track programme, and Fabian Knechtl, Schiebel Pacific’s managing director, hopes a Project Sea 129 Phase 5 Block 1 contract will be signed before year’s end.

至于澳大利亚皇家海军（RAN），去年选择了Schiebel的S-100直升机作为其舰载平台。雷神澳大利亚公司负责快速通道项目，Schiebel Pacific公司董事总经理费边·克内特尔希望在年底前签署Sea 129项目第五阶段区块1合同。

 

Knechtl said no decision has been made on the number of UAVs being procured, though the RAN talks about eight capability bricks, with Schiebel Pacific expecting each brick to consist of 2-3 aircraft. Sea 129 Phase 5 will span 30 years, with five-year rolling block upgrades occurring to incorporate new technologies.

克内特尔表示，尚未就采购的无人机数量做出决定，尽管澳大利亚皇家海军讨论到了八个能力批次，Schiebel Pacific预计每个批次将由2-3架飞机组成。Sea 129第五阶段将持续30年，将进行为期五年的滚动升级，以引入新技术。

 

India’s wake-up call

印度的警钟

 

India’s UAV wake-up call came well before the Ukrainian invasion did, crossing its Rubicon when the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) confronted Indian troops in Eastern Ladakh in mid-2020. Those tensions reinforced the need for suitable UAV platforms.

印度的无人机警钟早在乌克兰入侵之前就敲响了，2020年年中，当中国人民解放军（PLA）在拉达克东部对抗印度军队时，他们“跨越卢比孔河”。这些紧张局势加强了对合适的无人机平台的需求。

 

India has struggled to field larger indigenous UAV designs – the Nishant tactical UAV and delayed Rustom-2/Tapas BH-201 medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) programme being examples of this. The Indian Navy is currently leasing two MQ-9Bs from the US, but India has previously talked about procuring up to 30 Reapers for all three services, though this number will reduce because of financial constraints.

印度一直在努力部署更大的本土无人机设计——“尼尚特”战术无人机和推迟的Rustom-2/Tapas BH-201中高空长航时（MALE）计划就是其中的例子。印度海军目前正在从美国租赁两架MQ-9B无人机，但印度此前曾谈到为所有三个军种服务采购多达30架“收割者”，尽管由于财政限制，这一数字将减少。

 

Nonetheless, abundant opportunities exist for local companies to supply less sophisticated UAVs to India’s military. Since the 2020 border conflict, fast-tracked tenders, routinely for hundreds of UAVs, have fallen under the Buy (Indian) procurement category.

尽管如此，当地公司仍有大量机会向印度军方供应不太先进的无人机。自2020年边境冲突以来，数百架无人机的快速招标一直属于购买（印度）采购类别。

 

A flurry of requests for information (RfI) appeared in October 2022, for example, the first for 750 VTOL UAVs for Parachute (Special Forces) battalions. Next, the artillery branch needed 80 mini-UAVs with a flight range of 15+km. Furthermore, the Indian Army sought 1,000 rotary-winged surveillance UAVs to monitor borders.

例如，2022年10月出现了一系列信息邀请书（RfI），为空降（特种部队）营提供了750架垂直起降无人机。接下来，炮兵部门需要80架飞行里程超过15公里的小型无人机。此外，印度陆军寻求1000架旋转翼侦察无人机来监视边境。

 

Then, last December, the Indian Army issued an RfI for 570 logistics UAVs in standard and high-altitude versions. In January, the Indian Army published a request for proposals (RfP) for 130 tethered UAVs suitable for persistent surveillance. This was followed in February by an RfP for 850 nano-UAVs.

然后，去年12月，印度陆军发布了570架标准型和高空型后勤无人机的信息邀请书（RfI）。1月，印度陆军发布了130架适用于持续监视的系留无人机的征求建议书（RfP）。随后在2月份发布了850架纳米无人机的征求建议书（RfP）。

 

Such large-scale tenders illustrate the huge demand for UAVs in India. IdeaForge has already delivered hundreds of 15km-range Switch UAVs to the army, while NewSpace Research and Technologies completed delivery of 100 autonomous surveillance and armed drone swarm UAVs in March. This $15m tender included Beluga hexcopters and Nimbus Mk-III quadcopters.

如此大规模的招标说明了印度对无人机的巨大需求。IdeaForge公司已经向军队交付了数百架15公里航程的“斯维奇”（Switch）无人机，而新空间研究和技术公司（NewSpace Research and Technologies）在3月份完成了100架自主监视和武装无人机群无人机的交付。这项1500万美元的投标包括“白鲸”六旋翼机和“尼姆布斯”Mk III四旋翼机。

 

NewSpace is also collaborating with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) to develop a solar-powered high-altitude pseudo-satellite aircraft, plus the twin-engine CATS Warrior loyal wingman that should commence flight tests next year.

新空间公司还与印度斯坦航空有限公司（HAL）合作开发一种太阳能的高空伪卫星飞机，以及明年开始飞行测试的双发动机“猫勇士”忠诚僚机。

 

China: leading the region

中国：在该地区处于领先地位

 

China is Asia’s leading proponent of UAVs, emerging as a prolific exporter, with UCAVs such as the Wing Loong and CH series sold to regimes across Asia, Africa and the Middle East.

中国是亚洲无人机的主要支持者，正在成为一个多产的出口国，“翼龙”和“长虹”（CH）系列无人机被出售给亚洲、非洲和中东的政权。

 

The Zhuhai Air Show offers a biennial smorgasbord of UAV designs, and the most recent iteration in November 2022 did not disappoint. AVIC exhibited two new UCAVs, the Wing Loong III and Wing Loong 10, with the former featuring a maximum take-off weight of 6,200kg, which is 2,000kg more than its predecessor.

珠海航展每两年举办一次无人机设计狂欢会，2022年11月的最新一次也没有让人失望。中航工业展出了两款新型无人驾驶飞机，“翼龙”III和“翼龙”10，前者的最大起飞重量为6200公斤，比前一代多2000公斤。

 

Possessing a 10,000+km range and endurance of 40+ hours, AVIC is getting ready for production. The Wing Loong III measures 12.2m long, has a 24m wingspan and features nine external hardpoints.

中航工业的“翼龙”III拥有10000多公里的续航里程和40多小时的续航能力，正在为生产做好准备。“翼龙”III长12.2米，翼展24米，有九个外部硬挂点。

 

Meanwhile, the jet-powered Wing Loong 10B with 10m wingspan is a high-altitude long-endurance UAV now in PLA Air Force service as the WZ-10. Previously known as the Cloud Shadow, it can carry a 400kg payload, or act as an electronic reconnaissance UAV. Its antennas could locate US Navy ships as part of a surveillance network, for example, helping direct DF-21D anti-ship ballistic missiles onto enemy vessels.

同时，翼展为10米的喷气式“翼龙”10B是一种高空长航时无人机，目前在中国人民解放军空军服役，命名为无侦-10。它以前被称为“云影”，可以携带400公斤的有效载荷，也可以充当电子侦察无人机。例如，作为监视网络的一部分，它的天线可以定位美国海军舰艇，帮助将DF-21D反舰弹道导弹引导到敌方舰艇上。

 

Chinese UCAVs, like the Wing Loong II pictured here in PLA Air Force livery, have proved popular purchases around the world. Credit: Author

事实证明，中国无人驾驶飞机，就像图中穿着解放军空军涂装的翼龙II一样，在世界各地都很受欢迎。署名：作者

 

Other interesting UAV designs at last year’s Zhuhai included the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) CH-7 stealth UAV with 26m wingspan and maximum take-off weight of 10 tons. Another mysterious stealthy UAV was the Cloud Shadow CS-5000T with blended-wing design.

在去年的珠海上，其他有趣的无人机设计包括中国航天科技公司（CASC）CH-7隐形无人机，翼展26米，最大起飞重量为10吨。另一架神秘的隐形无人机是具有混合机翼设计的“云影”CS-5000T。

 

Yet another newcomer was a near-space hypersonic technology testbed called the MD-22. Measuring 10.8m long and with a 4-tonne maximum take-off weight, the Chinese Academy of Sciences predicts the developmental MD-22 will reach Mach 7.

另一个新出现的是一个名为MD-22的近太空高超音速技术试验台。中国科学院预测，研制的MD-22长10.8米，最大起飞重量为4吨，将达到7马赫。

 

East Asia focus

东亚焦点

 

Japan trails its neighbours, although it does field US-manufactured ScanEagles and RQ-4B Global Hawks. However, to the military’s detriment, Japanese industry has not prioritised UAVs at all.

日本落后于它的邻国，尽管它确实部署了美国制造的“扫描鹰”和RQ-4B“全球鹰”。然而，对日本军方不利的是，日本工业根本没有优先考虑无人机。

 

Nearby South Korea is a different story, with a vibrant UAV industry thanks to Korean Air Aerospace Division (KAL-ASD) and Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI). A major programme under way includes a corps-level UAV (with both ISR and armed versions) for the Republic of Korea Army.

附近的韩国则是另一回事，由于韩国航空航天事业部（KAL-ASD）和韩国航空航天工业公司（KAI），无人机行业充满活力。正在进行的一项重大计划包括为大韩民国陆军提供一种军级无人机（包括ISR和武装版本）。

 

Another is the Reaper-like KUS-FS MALE platform for the ROK Air Force. KAL-ASD first flew it more than a decade ago, but technical issues have delayed series production. As well as a standard ISR type with 24-hour endurance, an armed variant has been spotted in testing.

另一个是韩国空军的类似“收割者”的KUS-FS MALE平台。KAL-ASD在十多年前首次飞行，但技术问题推迟了系列生产。除了24小时耐力的标准ISR类型外，还发现了一种武装改型处在测试中。

 

This is the KUS-FS, a strategic MALE-class UAV being developed by Korean Air for the Republic of Korea Air Force. Credit: Author

这是KUS-FS，一种由大韩民国航空公司为大韩民国空军开发的战略MALE级无人机。署名：作者

 

Another project is KAL-ASD’s Kaori-X stealthy UCAV; it is predicted to be ready by 2025. Additionally, last August, Korean Air was appointed preferred bidder to develop a new loyal wingman. The envisaged KUS-LW will see 3-4 loyal wingmen supporting individual fighters like the KF-21.

另一个项目是KAL-ASD的Kaori-X隐形UCAV；预计它将在2025年准备就绪。此外，去年8月，大韩航空被任命为开发一个新的忠诚僚机的首选投标人。预计的KUS-LW将看到3-4架忠诚僚机支持像KF-21这样的单座战斗机。

 

Taiwan,, has been more aggressively pursuing UAV development in the past few years. In mid-March, the National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST) displayed several new UAVs nearing completion. One was the Albatross II with 300+km range and 16-hour endurance for maritime surveillance and reconnaissance.

中国台湾地区，在过去的几年中一直在更积极地追求无人机的发展。3月中旬，台“国家中山科学技术研究院”（NCSIST）展示了几架即将完工的新无人机。其中一种是“信天翁”II，航程300+公里，续航力16个小时，用于海上监视和侦察。

 

Another was the Cardinal III hybrid UAV featuring three propellers; it can conduct battlefield surveillance missions with its EO/IR sensor and laser rangefinder. NCSIST has also developed the Harop-like Chen Hsiang loitering munition and Teng Yun MALE UAV.

另一种是配备三个螺旋桨的Cardinal III混合动力无人机；它可以使用EO/IR传感器和激光测距仪执行战场监视任务。NCSIST还开发了类似“哈洛普”的“祯祥”游荡弹药和“腾云”MALE无人机。

 

Market growth in key region

重点地区的市场增长

 

According to GlobalData, the global military UAV market size was measured at $7.9bn in 2022 and was expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of more than 4% up to 2032. Of this, the Asia-Pacific region, supported by China, India, Australia, Japan, and South Korea, with their multi-year procurement programmes, was expected to lead the investment in the sector globally, exhibiting a steady pace of growth over the forecast period.

根据全球数据，2022年全球军用无人机市场规模为79亿美元，预计到2032年将以超过4%的复合年增长率增长。其中，由中国、印度、澳大利亚、日本和韩国支持的亚太地区及其多年采购计划，预计将引领全球对该部门的投资，在预测期间表现出稳定的增长速度。

 

Within the region there exist important pockets of innovation and indigenisation, while recent conflicts have underscored how UAVs are an essential tool in any Asian military arsenal.

在该地区存在着重要的创新和本地化领域，而最近的冲突凸显了无人机是亚洲任何一种军事武器库中的重要工具。