China Is Testing Its First Tiltrotor Aircraft

Tiltrotor aircraft combine the vertical takeoff, hover, and vertical landings of a helicopter but offer the more extended range, higher speed, and fuel efficiency of a turboprop aircraft.

The Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) has been developing a tiltrotor aircraft, similar to the Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey or the Bell V-280 Valor, for more than a decade. Dubbed the “Blue Whale,” it was first revealed as a proof-of-concept program back in 2013, with a model unveiled at the Zhuhai Airshow in 2022.

The efforts have paid off, and the first prototype, which recently made its maiden flight, is now believed to be undergoing further tests.

Images have been circulating on social media of the still-unofficially-designated aircraft in flight. However, it remains unclear when the photos were taken or when they were first posted online.

What Is a Tiltrotor Aircraft?

Tiltrotor aircraft combine the vertical takeoff, hover, and vertical landings of a helicopter but offer the more extended range, higher speed, and fuel efficiency of a turboprop aircraft. As vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft, they can operate from facilities that lack a traditional runway, such as helicopter carriers.

Once in the air, the aircraft converts from vertical to horizontal flight by rotating its propellers. In the case of the V-22, the nacelles, which include the engines and prop-rotor group on each wing, rotate to the forward position. However, the Chinese version’s design is closer to the V-280 than the V-22, as its engines remain fixed in place while the rotors and drive shaft transition from vertical to horizontal flight.

This technology is inherently more complicated than a standard helicopter, and the V-22 Osprey has been the subject of controversy due to several deadly crashes that have resulted in the deaths of US military personnel. The issue has been traced to clutch-related problems that occurred just seconds after takeoff when power is quickly applied to the aircraft.

Despite the issues with the Osprey, Beijing has expressed interest in such an aircraft that could be employed in disaster relief, supply airdrops, search-and-rescue, and other non-military roles. However, it is hard not to see that the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) could benefit from having such an aircraft at its disposal, where it could be used to rapidly move troops during an island assault—including one mounted against Taiwan.

A tiltrotor aircraft could allow for rapid troop deployment in areas without runways or with limited beach access—geography widely found on Taiwan. Using tiltrotor aircraft in a cross-strait invasion would allow Beijing to avoid capturing the nation’s airports, a major chokepoint. Moreover, the aircraft could keep an invading force supplied while carrying out other operations, including serving in an anti-submarine warfare (AWS) capacity.

What We Know About China’s New Aircraft

Neither China nor AVIC has publicly commented on the Blue Whale, but it was noted that the prototype aircraft spotted in the online posts had a straight wing that featured a driveshaft. That could allow both rotors “to be powered by a single engine in the event of an engine failure,” the Defence Blog explained. Moreover, like the V-280 Valor, the Chinese tiltrotor was equipped with retractable tricycle undercarriage landing gear. Unlike the Valor, however, its design featured a T-tail configuration.

AVIC’s aircraft is also smaller than the V-22 and is believed to be comparable in size to the Italian-made AW609, which can carry up to 12 passengers. This is half the size of the Osprey, and suffers from more limited utility as a result—but it is likely a proof of concept for Beijing as it seeks to develop even more capable tiltrotors.

China has already touted the capabilities of its UR6000, the first tiltrotor drone that was unveiled last fall. The aircraft can reportedly carry up to 2,000 kg of cargo and has a range of 1,500 km, and could be employed in both civilian and military roles. While the aircraft can not carry troops, it could help bring supplies to China’s forces that attempt to establish a beachhead during an invasion. The aircraft’s range is reported to cover much of the Western Pacific, putting not only Taiwan, but also US military bases in Japan and South Korea, within its crosshairs.

About the Author: Peter Suciu

Peter Suciu has contributed over 3,200 published pieces to more than four dozen magazines and websites over a 30-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a contributing writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. He is based in Michigan. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: [email protected].

Image: Wikimedia Commons.