Development started with the People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) in the early-1960s[2] before being taken over by the Nanjing Aviation Institute (NAI) in 1968.
China decided to reverse engineer and produce the UAV as the CK-1 when the Sino-Soviet split ended further supply.
Development began in the early-1960s at the PLAAF's Weapon Test and Training Base under General Zhao Xu ("the father of the Chinese UAV".
[3] The CK-1A radiation reconnaissance drone was developed in response to a March 1977 requirement to replace manned aircraft in the nuclear weapons testing air sampling role.
[4] The CK-1B low-altitude target drone for surface-to-air missile training began development in February 1980.
The ramjet is replaced by a non-afterburning variant of the WP-6 turbojet, the Chinese version of the Soviet Tumansky RD-9B used by PLAAF aircraft; this mirrors the development of the La-17M.
[5] The CK-1C target drone's control system is modified to permit greater manoeuvrability and the fuel tanks are pressurized with engine bleed air to ensure flow.
[5] Two underwing pods modify the drone's infrared signature, and are also equipped with reflectors, and light and smoke tracers.