Xinying Clairvoyance (Qian-Li-Yan or Qianliyan, 千里眼) is the name of a family of Chinese UAVs developed by Guilin Xinying Electronic Science & Technology Co., Ltd. (Xinying, 桂林鑫鹰电子科技有限公司), some of which have since entered service with various Chinese military, paramilitary and law enforcement establishments. In addition, some of models have also been exported abroad under other the name of other firms. As with all other UAVs of Xinying, Clarivoyance series UAV is also jointly developed by Xinying and Guilin University of Aerospace Technology (GLCAT, 桂林航天工业学院).
Contents
Clairvoyance I
Clairvoyance I is the first member of Clairvoyance series micro air vehicle (MAV) developed by Xinying, and it is also the very first UAV developed by Xinying and its partner, GLCAT, which signed a deal to jointly develop UAV with Xinying in May 2007, thus marked the beginning of UAV business venture for both. Within less than a year time frame, the first UAV became operational and entered service, and since it was mainly used for aerial survey / photography, it was decided to name the UAV as Clairvoyance, and the very first model was hence named as Clairvoyance I. Clairvoyance I has since been replaced by its successor. Although no longer marketed, Xinying still provides support for those currently in service. The most notable deployment of Clairvoyance I is that it was one of the few UAVs deployed in the rescue and relief effort of 2008 Sichuan earthquake.
Clairvoyance II
Clairvoyance II is the second member of Clairvoyance series MAV developed by Xinying. As with Clairvoyance I, Clairvoyance II is also superseded by its successor. Although Clairvoyance II is no longer marketed and superseded, Xinying still provides support to those still in service. The successor of Clairvoyance II is Clairvoyance III, which has been marketed and in service currently.
Clarivoyance III
Clairvoyance III is the third member of Clairvoyance series MAV developed by Xinying, and it is an electrically powered that somewhat resembles a scaled-down version of Northrop X-4 Bantam, but without inlets, because it is not jet-powered, but it has twin tails instead of the single one of X-4. There are also leading edges for wings. Propulsion is provided by a two-blade propeller driven by a pusher engine mounted at the empennage. Specification:
Clairvoyance V
Clairvoyance V is a very little known UAV developed by Xinying and was once briefly publicized at the developer’s website, but the web page has since been removed. It’s possible that Clairvoyance V has been adopted by Chinese military, which often resulted in the removal of information about the UAV from public view. This assumption is further strengthened by the fact that the developer’s own work published reveals that Clairvoyance 5 incorporates frequency-hopping spread spectrum, a measure generally reserved for military, but usually not for civilian use, and all previous Clairvoyance series lacked this feature. Furthermore, the developer dubbed the UAV as an aerial reconnaissance platform, as opposed to the general aerial survey platform of civilian use, despite including disaster relief as one of its functions.