CAIG Wing Loong II

Last updated
Wing Loong II
Wing Loong II side view.jpg
Wing Loong II at Dubai Air Show 2017
Role MALE UCAV
Manufacturer Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group
Designer Chengdu Aircraft Design Institute
First flightFebruary 2017 [1]
Introduction2017
StatusIn service
Primary user People's Liberation Army Air Force
Produced2015-present
Developed from CAIG Wing Loong
Developed into Chengdu Wing Loong-3

The Chengdu GJ-2, also known as Wing Loong 2, is an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) capable of remotely controlled or autonomous flight developed by the Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group in the People's Republic of China. Intended for use as a surveillance and aerial reconnaissance and precision strike platform, Chengdu unveiled the concept of Wing Loong II at the Aviation Expo China in Beijing in September 2015. Wing Loong II has long range strike capability with a satellite link.

Contents

Development

The prototype of the Wing Loong II was presented for the first time to the public during the Airshow China exhibition, held in Zhuhai from 1–6 November 2016. [2]

Design

Wing Loong II front view, Dubai Air Show 2017 Wing Loong II fron view.jpg
Wing Loong II front view, Dubai Air Show 2017

The Wing Loong II UAV MALE is an enlarged version of the Wing Loong I with a longer body and wider wing span. It has a slender fuselage, V-tail, and ventral fin. The aircraft features retractable landing gear, including two main wheels under the fuselage and one single wheel under the nose. Each wing has three hardpoints under the wings with the capability of carrying bombs, rockets, or air-to-surface missiles. A satellite communications antenna is situated on the top front surface of the fuselage, offering long range data transmission between the UAV and the ground station. [2]

Comparison

Comparison of Chinese military UAVs [3]
VariantArmamentsTakeoff weightEngine typeMaximum cruise speedOperational endurance
CH-1No 220 kgPiston140 km/h 6 hours
CH-2No 220 kgPiston160 km/h 8 hours
CH-3Yes, 80 kg 650 kgPiston220 km/h 12 hours
CH-4Yes, 345 kg 1330 kgPiston180 km/h 30 hours for recon / 12 hours for strike
CH-5Yes, 1000 kg 3300 kgTurboprop220 km/h 60 hours for recon / 30 hours with 8 AR-1 missiles
GJ-1 (Wing Loong I) Yes, 200 kg 1100 kgPiston280 km/h 20 hours
GJ-2 (Wing Loong II) Yes, 480 kg 4200 kgTurboprop370 km/h 32 hours / 20 hours at max speed
Wing Loong III Yes, 2300 kg 6200 kgTurboprop- 40 hours
WZ-10 (Wing Loong-10) Yes, 400 kg 3200 kgTurbojet/Turbofan620 km/h 32 hours

Variants

GJ-2
Chinese military version of Wing Loong II. Distinguished by the lack of winglets. Officially entered service with the PLAAF in November 2018. [4]
Wing Loong II
An upgraded variant of the Wing Loong-1, with provisions for up to twelve air-to-surface missiles. [5] [6] [7]
Wing Loong 2H
Civilian, communication, emergency response variant, equipped with synthetic aperture radar and optoelectronic pod which is able to relay and amplify telecommunication signals. The Wing Loong 2H debuted in July 2021 when it was deployed to assist with rescue work in Central China's Henan Province after unprecedented heavy rainfall flooding, providing a stable communication signal that can be directly used by normal phones with areas of over 50 square kilometers. [8]
Wing Loong 2D [9]
Wing Loong 2Y [9]
Wing Loong 3
Enlarged Wing Loong 2 with longer range and endurance hours. [10] [11] [12] It's the first model in the Wing Loong series that is capable of deploying air-to-air missiles and reach intercontinental range. [13] The drone was fitted with the PL-10E infrared missile, a sonobuoy launcher, and miniature UAV under its wings at the airshow display. [12]

Operational history

The Wing Loong II was used by the UAE to perform airstrikes against the Government of National Accord (GNA) in the Libyan civil war. The GNA received 12 Bayraktar TB2s in two batches between May and July. At least half of them have been destroyed during Libyan National Army (LNA) airstrikes using Wing Loong IIs; the second batch delivered in July was to replace the losses of the first. [14] [15] [16] As of June 2020, a total of 6 Wing Loong IIs have been reported shot down or lost in Libya, all operated by the LNA. [17] One was allegedly shot down by a laser: if this was true then it was the first time in history that a laser weapon shot down a combat vehicle. [18]

An investigation led by BBC Africa Eye and BBC Arabic Documentaries revealed that the UAE used Wing Loong II drones to fire Chinese Blue Arrow 7 missiles at a military academy in Libya's capital, Tripoli, in January 2020, killing 26 unarmed cadets. The drone was operated from Libya's Al-Khadim air base which has been under the control of the UAE. [19]

During the 2021 Henan floods, because of the interruption of communication in some areas due to flooding, the Ministry of Emergency Management dispatched its emergency disaster-response Chengdu Wing Loong II (Wing Loong 2H) to the corresponding areas, and carried out nearly 6 hours of ground reconnaissance and communication relay services. [20] [21]

In 2023 the Nigerian Air Force seems to have struck "Boko Haram" militants using the Wing Loong II. [22] [23] A video of one of the strikes seems to be available online [24]

In 2024, Pakistan carried out a strike on militants within the Iranian border, using Wing Loong IIs alongside JF-17s and F-16s [25]

Operators

Specifications

Data from Army Recognition [2]

General characteristics

Performance

Armament
Up to 480 kg [35] [36]

Avionics

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

Related lists

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Unmanned combat aerial vehicle</span> Unmanned aerial vehicle that is usually armed

An unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV), also known as a combat drone, colloquially shortened as drone or battlefield UAV, is an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) that is used for intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance and carries aircraft ordnance such as missiles, ATGMs, and/or bombs in hardpoints for drone strikes. These drones are usually under real-time human control, with varying levels of autonomy. Unlike unmanned surveillance and reconnaissance aerial vehicles, UCAVs are used for both drone strikes and battlefield intelligence.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chengdu J-10</span> Chinese multi-role fighter aircraft family

The Chengdu J-10 Vigorous Dragon, is a medium-weight, single-engine, multirole combat aircraft capable of all-weather operations, configured with a delta wing and canard design, with fly-by-wire flight controls, and produced by the Chengdu Aircraft Corporation (CAC) for the People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF), Pakistan Air Force (PAF) and People's Liberation Army Naval Air Force (PLANAF). The J-10 is mainly designed for air-to-air combat, but can also perform strike missions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">August 1st (aerobatic team)</span> Military unit

The August 1st or Ba Yi Aerobatics Team is the aerobatic demonstration team of the People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF). It was founded in 1962 and named after the date of founding of the People's Liberation Army (PLA), August 1, 1927.

China International Aviation & Aerospace Exhibition, also known as the Airshow China or Zhuhai Airshow, is the largest airshow and aerospace trade expo in China. It has been held in even years in Zhuhai, Guangdong since 1996.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">CAIG Wing Loong</span> Unmanned aerial vehicle

The Chengdu GJ-1, also known as Wing Loong 1, is a Medium-Altitude Long-Endurance (MALE) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), developed by the Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group in the People's Republic of China. Intended for use as a surveillance and aerial reconnaissance platform, the Pterodactyl I is capable of being fitted with air-to-surface weapons for use in an unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) role.

The BZK-005 Medium-altitude, long-range UAV is a reconnaissance aircraft designed by Beijing University of Aeronautics & Astronautics and Harbin Aircraft Industry (Group) Co., Ltd. It is used by the PLA Navy and PLA Air Force.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Guizhou WZ-7 Soaring Dragon</span> Type of aircraft

The Guizhou WZ-7 Soaring Dragon is a high-altitude long endurance unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) from the People's Republic of China. The aircraft features a unique joined-wing design.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">AVIC Dark Sword</span> Type of aircraft

The AVIC Dark Sword is a stealthy supersonic unmanned combat aerial vehicle from the People's Republic of China. It is being developed by the Aviation Industry Corporation of China's Shenyang Aircraft Design Institute for the air superiority or deep strike roles. Use as an autonomous wingman for manned aircraft may also be a goal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Loong Air</span> Chinese airline

Zhejiang Loong Airlines Co. Ltd, branded as Loong Air (长龙航空) and previously as CDI Cargo (长龙国际货运航空公司), is a Chinese airline based in Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport in Hangzhou, Zhejiang.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">CASC Rainbow</span> Chinese unmanned aerial vehicle series

CASC Rainbow is a series of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) developed by the China Academy of Aerospace Aerodynamics, an entity under the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC). The China Academy of Aerospace Aerodynamics is also known as the 11th Academy of CASC or 701st Research Institute.

CASIC WJ is a series of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) developed by the 3rd Academy Hiwing of the China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation (CASIC), and the academy is also more commonly known as HiWING Mechanical and Electrical Technology Corp., or HiWING for short.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chengdu WZ-10</span> Unmanned aerial vehicle

The Wing Loong-10 is a series of unmanned aerial vehicles of the High-Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) type, featuring some stealth characteristics. As of 2017, it is being developed by the Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group for reconnaissance and precision strike missions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">PL-15</span> Chinese air-to-air missile

The PL-15 is an active radar-guided long-range air-to-air missile developed by the People's Republic of China.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hongdu GJ-11</span> Type of aircraft

The Hongdu GJ-11 Sharp Sword is an unmanned combat aerial vehicle developed in the People's Republic of China for the People's Liberation Army. It was designed by Shenyang Aircraft Design Institute and Hongdu Aviation Industry Group (HAIG), with the latter being the manufacturer. The GJ-11 can perform precision strike and aerial reconnaissance missions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tengden TB-001</span> Chinese unmanned aerial vehicle

The Tengden TB-001 is a medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) designed by Sichuan Tengden. It is used by the People's Liberation Army.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">AVIC WZ-8</span> Type of aircraft

WZ-8, is an unmanned aerial vehicle produced by Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC). Introduced during China's 70th anniversary military parade, the drone is intended to conduct strategic aerial reconnaissance across southeast Asia, particularly Taiwan, South Korea and Japan. Its reconnaissance capabilities reportedly include electro-optical imaging, synthetic-aperture radar, and other sensors. Some have suggested the drone will be weaponized to provide strategic anti-access/area denial capabilities. The drone cannot take off under its own power, instead it is air-launched from a Xi'an H-6M mothership once the H-6 reaches a prescribed speed and altitude.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chengdu Wing Loong-3</span> Unmanned aerial vehicle

The Chengdu Wing Loong-3 is a Medium-Altitude Long-Endurance (MALE) unmanned aerial combat vehicle (UCAV), developed by the Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group in the People's Republic of China. Intended for use as a multi-purpose platform, including anti-air, anti-submarine warfare (ASW), ground strike, maritime strike, search and rescue, and surveillance and aerial reconnaissance capabilities which can fly a maximum range of 10,000 km at medium altitude with a maximum take-off weight of 6,200 kg. Wing Loong-3 is by far the largest and first air-to-air capable model of the Wing Loong family

References

  1. ↑ "China's AVIC Achieves First Flight of Wing-Loong II UAV".
  2. 1 2 3 "WING LOONG II UAV MALE". Army Recognition. 18 March 2023.
  3. ↑ "Is China at the Forefront of Drone Technology?". 29 May 2018.
  4. ↑ "Airshow China 2018: Wing Loong II armed reconnaissance UAV enters PLAAF service | Jane's 360". Archived from the original on 2018-11-07. Retrieved 2020-01-09.
  5. ↑ "组图：翼龙-2无人机挂载能力强悍_新闻_腾讯网". News.qq.com. Retrieved 2020-01-19.
  6. ↑ 2016-10-28 13:57:20 来源：观察者网 (2016-10-28). ""翼龙2"或入列中国空军 "彩虹5"将出口中东-搜狐军事频道". Mil.sohu.com. Retrieved 2020-01-19.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  7. ↑ Wong, Kevin (7 November 2018). "Airshow China 2018: Wing Loong II armed reconnaissance UAV enters PLAAF service". IHS Jane's 360. Zhuhai. Archived from the original on 2018-11-07. Retrieved 7 November 2018.
  8. ↑ "国产翼龙-2H无人机为通信中断区搭建空中移动基站-新华网". www.xinhuanet.com. Retrieved 2021-07-23.
  9. 1 2 "China unveils giant new drone that may point to future of air warfare". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. Retrieved 2022-11-12.
  10. ↑ "Chinese defense aviation industry unveils its new Wing Loong 3 UAV at AirShow China 2022". armyrecognition. 6 November 2022.
  11. ↑ "China Introduces Large Wing Loong III UCAS". Aviation Week. 7 November 2022.
  12. 1 2 Trevithick, Joseph (7 November 2022). "All The Air Combat Developments Out Of China's Massive Air Show". The Drive.
  13. ↑ Wang, Amber (9 November 2022). "China unveils Wing Loong-3 intercontinental military drone with self-defense mechanism at Zhuhai air show". South China Morning Post.
  14. ↑ "Chinese drones hunt Turkish drones in Libya air war". South China Morning Post . 2019-09-29. Retrieved 2019-11-18.
  15. ↑ "Drone war in Libya: Wing Loong II versus Bayraktar TB2". African Military. 26 September 2019. Archived from the original on 23 September 2020.
  16. ↑ "Libya:Drone test laboratory for a new type of air warfare". Air & Cosmos International. 15 November 2019. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
  17. ↑ "CAIG Wing Loong II - All losses by type (modification)" . Retrieved 9 June 2020.
  18. ↑ Timokhin, Alexander. "Turkey uses laser weapon technology to shoot down Chinese UAV Wing Loong II in Libya". Army Recognition. Archived from the original on 2020-04-16. Retrieved 2019-08-12.
  19. ↑ "UAE implicated in lethal drone strike in Libya". BBC News. 28 August 2020. Retrieved 28 August 2020.
  20. ↑ 观察者网 (2021-07-22). "联系上了！"翼龙无人机抵达你镇上空"" (in Chinese (China)). 观察者网. Retrieved 2021-07-22.
  21. ↑ 杨晨 (2021-07-22). "驰援河南 "翼龙"化身空中移动"基站"" (in Chinese (China)). 封面新闻. Retrieved 2021-07-22.
  22. ↑ Video
  23. ↑ Emerald Insight
  24. ↑ Twitter
  25. ↑ Twitter
  26. ↑ Akramov (2021-09-23). "L'Algérie va renforcer sa flotte de drones". MENADEFENSE (in French). Retrieved 2021-11-11.
  27. ↑ @fab_hinz (June 16, 2023). "Algeria seems to have taken delivery of Chinese Wing Loong II UAVs with one example visible at Ain Oussera Airbase in mid-May" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  28. ↑
  29. ↑ "IDEX-2021: China Displays Its High-Tech Military Hardware At Abu Dhabi Expo: Watch". Latest Asian, Middle-East, EurAsian, Indian News. 2021-02-24. Retrieved 2021-03-12.
  30. ↑ "Nigeria acquires sophisticated drones capable of fighting Boko Haram, bandits for 26 hours nonstop". Daily Nigerian. 2020-11-10. Retrieved 2020-11-10.
  31. ↑ Dominguez, Gabriel; Bedi, Rahul (9 October 2018). "China, Pakistan to jointly produce Wing Loong II UAVs, says report". London, New Delhi. Archived from the original on 9 October 2018. Retrieved 13 October 2018.
  32. ↑ "Chinese Wing Loong II drones sold to Pakistan". Army Recognition. 11 October 2018. Archived from the original on 2018-10-11. Retrieved 13 October 2018.
  33. ↑ Nene, Vidi (11 October 2018). "China and Pakistan to Jointly Produce 48 Wing Loong II Drones". Drone Below. Archived from the original on 2018-10-11. Retrieved 13 October 2018.
  34. ↑ Biggers, Christopher (26 January 2018). "UAE revealed as Wing Loong II launch customer". IHS Jane's 360. Washington, DC. Archived from the original on 26 January 2018. Retrieved 26 January 2018.
  35. ↑ "[今日关注]中国彩虹五无人机首飞成功 正式进入量产 | CCTV-4". YouTube .
  36. ↑ "WING LOONG II UAV MALE". armyrecognition. 18 March 2023.
  37. ↑ "Saudi Arabia".
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.