Taiwan Teng Yun 2 prototype drone damaged during runway test

HUALIEN  (TVBS News) — A prototype of Taiwan's Teng Yun 2 drone sustained damage during a recent test flight at the Hualien Airforce base on Wednesday (Feb. 22), according to the National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST). 

As per NCSIST, the drone's mechanical components exhibited abnormal behavior during its runway run, following which the takeoff was aborted per standard protocol. However, the drone skidded off the runway during deceleration and ended up in the grass.

In the aftermath of the incident, a crane was dispatched to move the drone onto a tow truck, and personnel was seen assisting in lifting the drone. 

Upon inspection, it was discovered that the landing gear and propeller were damaged. The drone has since been returned to the factory for repairs, and the NCSIST will conduct tests on its hardware and software components before any future flight testing.

While the damaged drone was only a prototype, experts are concerned that this incident might delay the mass production process of the Teng Yun 2 drone. 

In June 2022, the Teng Yun 2 drone completed a 10-hour flight around Taiwan's air defense identification zone (ADIZ), demonstrating its capabilities.