Ba-2 Target Drone

The Ba-2 is the low-altitude, low-speed radioplane target drone developed by Northwest Polytechnic University (NPU) in the 1960s for the antiaircraft gunnery and radar crews to conduct target practice. Development began in 1966 and the drone made its first flight in 1968. The batch production began in 1970, with over a thousand examples delivered to the PLA since then.

The Ba-2 is a lightweight, versatile, and easy-to-use target drone. The fuselage and wings are made of mainly fibreglass, with some wooden and steel parts. The drone is driven by an air-cooled 2-stroke 14hp piston engine fuelled by ordinary motor vehicle gasoline. The wings and tails of the drone can be easily dissembled for transportation. The drone carries two target sleeves inside its cabin and can be fitted with light tracers and strobe lights for night training. The drone could also simulate the manoeuvres of fighters and attackers to make the target practice more realistic.

Specifications

Dimensions: Wingspan: 2.7m; Length: 2.55m; Height 0.76m
Weight: Max take-off 53kg; Max load 5kg; Fuel 6kg
Speed: Max 250km/h
Service ceiling: 2,000m
Flight endurance: 1 hour
Remote control range: 15km
Powerplant: One HS-280 air-cooled, 4-cylinder, 2-stroke piston engine rated at 10.3kW (14hp)
Launch: Fixed ground launcher with a rocket booster
Recovery: Parachute

Last update: 7 July 2008