TB-001 Twin-Tailed Scorpion

The TB-001 Twin-Tailed Scorpion is a MALE drone developed by Chengdu-based Tengoen Technology and first revealed at the Zhuhai Airshow in 2021. Its distinctive twin-tail boom configuration houses dual 100 hp gasoline engines in a push-pull tractor/pusher arrangement, giving the TB-001 an exceptionally long endurance of 35+ hours — comparable to the American MQ-9 Reaper — while carrying up to 200 kg of payload on four underwing hardpoints. Standard weapon loads include AR-2 laser-guided missiles, KD-10 anti-tank missiles, and precision-guided bombs. The design is fully autonomous-capable with a satellite-based beyond-visual-line-of-sight datalink.

The TB-001 represents the maturation of China's second tier of defense aerospace — private and semi-private companies competing alongside AVIC and CASC for PLA contracts and export markets. Tengoen's use of a twin-boom twin-engine layout rather than the conventional single-pusher of Wing Loong or CH-4 gives the TB-001 better redundancy and higher fuel efficiency for long endurance missions. The platform has been marketed to Middle Eastern and Southeast Asian customers and is thought to be under evaluation by the PLAAF for long-range persistent ISR and maritime patrol. Its export potential — if priced below $3M — would make it a direct competitor to the Bayraktar TB2 in the mid-market segment.