Wing Loong ID Chinese Medium-Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)
Wing Loong ID
Multirole Fighter Aircraft
Other
Basic Information
Name
Wing Loong ID Chinese Medium-Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)
Designation
Wing Loong ID
Alternate Designation
Wing Loong ID
Equipment Type
Multirole Fighter Aircraft
Manufacturer
Chengdu Aircraft Corporation
Date of Introduction
2018
Description
The lightweight fuselage gives the new Wing Loong I-D drone a significant boost in operating endurance, payload, and service ceiling Chinese experts noted on Monday after China's first multi-purpose drone for export that uses a composite material structure successfully completed its maiden flight. As an advanced variant of the Wing Loong I, the Wing Loong I-D provides another cost-efficient choice for potential buyers on the international market compared to similar products, which also come mainly from China, Chinese military experts said.
Air & Air Defense Specifications
Engine
Piston Engine
Range
4000.0 km
Endurance
35.00 hrs
Variants
Pterosaur I
First member of Wing Loong series, with program of Wing Loong begun in May 2005. Maiden flight was completed in October 2007 and payload evaluation flight was completed a year later in October 2008. This first model of Wing Loong series lacked the bulge at the nose tip of the fuselage due to the lack of a satellite antenna, and while the English name used by the developer differed from later models, the Chinese name remains the same, and so is the name Wing Loong for the entire series. he lack of satellite antenna results in cheaper cost, with the reduction of the maximum control range around to 200 km.This model is no longer actively marketed when Pterodactyl I appeared, but is still available as a cheaper alternative up on potential customers’ request.
Pterodactyl I
Sky Saker is a derivative of Wing Loong developed by Norinco mainly intended for export. The Chinese name is Rui Ying (锐鹰), meaning Sharp Eagle, but the English name adopted by the developer is Sky Saker. Sky Saker / Rui Ying carries both a miniature synthetic aperture radar and an electro-optical pod to perform reconnaissance in both the visible light and radar spectra. The capability of Sky Saker / Rui Ying has been exaggerated by many Chinese internet sources claiming that it has both scout and strike capabilities at the same time, but this has been proven to the contrary. According to all info released by Norinco itself (as of 2015), the UAV can employ only a single capability at a time: when the UAV carries the reconnaissance payload, no weaponry is carried. Similarly, when weaponry is carried, the reconnaissance payload is absent.
WJ-1
The first land attack version of Pterodactyl I, which is a weapon platform without the reconnaissance/targeting pod under the chin. The designation WJ stands for Wu-Zhuang Wu-Ren-Ji (武装无人机), meaning armed UAV. WJ-1 UAV made its public debut in November 2014 at the 10th Zhuhai Airshow along with its cousin GJ-1.
GJ-1
Another land attack version of Pterodactyl I that combines the capabilities of both Pterodactyl I and WJ-1 so that it can identify and engage targets on its own. GJ-1 can be distinguished from both Pterodactyl I and WJ-1 in that GJ-1 has both the reconnaissance/targeting pod under the chin as well as hardpoints to carry weapons. The designation GJ stands for Gong-Ji Wu-Ren-Ji (攻击无人机), meaning "attack UAV." GJ-1 UAV made its public debut in November 2014 at the 10th Zhuhai Airshow along with its cousin WJ-1.
Wing Loong II
An upgraded variant of the Wing Loong, with provisions for up to twelve air-to-surface missiles. Officially entered service with the PLAAF in November 2018. Wing Loong II is known in PLAAF service as the Gongji-2 ('Attack 2' or GJ-2).
System
Alternative Designation
Wing Loong ID
Type
Medium-Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)
Manufacturer
Chengdu Aircraft Industrial Group (CAIG)
Primary Function
The Wing Loong ID can conduct intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance; electronic warfare; search-and-rescue; strike; peacekeeping; and border patrol missions.
Flight Control Method
Wireless Communication or by Pilot on the ground
Day/Night Capable
Yes
All Weather Capable
INA
Takeoff or Landing Limitations
1 km Runway needed for Launch
Ground Crew
1 ea
Complete System Includes
A complete Wing Loong ID system includes air vehicles, a ground-control station, mission payload and an integrated logistics system.
External Stations
4 ea
Range
4,000 km
Ceiling, Maximum
9,000 m
Endurance
35 hours
Location Positioning System
BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS)
Number of Hard Points
6 ea (3 on each wing)
Launch System
Runway,(1 km Runway needed for Launch)
Takeoff Roll
600 m
Automatic Landing and Takeoff Capability
Yes
Recovery System
Runway
Landing Gear
The landing gear consists of two main wheels under the fuselage and one single wheel under the nose, facilitates safe take-off and landing.
Payload
400 kg
Dimensions
Length
8.7 m
Height
3.7 m
Width (Wing Span)
17.6 m
Gross Weight
330 kg
Weight, Maximum Takeoff
INA (The Wing Loong II has a Maximum Takeoff Weight of 4,200 kg)
Automotive
Engine Name
Name INA. The Wing Loong ID has an updated engine from the engine in the Wing Loong II.
Engine Type
Piston engine
Engine Power
INA
Propellers Type
3 Bladed Design
Number of Engines
1 ea
Range
4,000 km
Speed, Maximum
280 km/h
Speed, Average
250 km/h
Endurance
35 hour
Payload
400 kg
Communications
Radio
Satellite Communications Antenna
Encrypted Data Link
Yes
Armament & Ammunition
Payload Types
EO/IR, SAR, laser-guided missiles, Laser Guided Bombs, Anti-Personnel Bombs
Air-to-Surface Missiles
Yes, can carry the BA-7 air-to-ground missiles, or 200 kg of Air-to-Surface Missiles.
Missile Type
BRM1, AKD-10
Bomb Type
YZ-212 laser-guided bomb; YZ-102A anti-personnel bomb; FT-10; FT-9; FT-7; GB7; GB4
Armament Weight Total
1,000 kg (The Wing Loong ID can carry more than double the Armament Weight of the WIng Loong II).
Fire Control
Fire Control System Type
INA
Fire Control Radar
INA
Radar Type
Digital with Synthesized Antenna Aperture
Radar Designator
Yes
Laser Rangefinder
Yes
Laser Designator
Yes
Full-Motion Video
Yes
Still Camera
Yes
Thermal Imaging Sensors
Yes
Forward Looking Infrared Turret
Yes
Electro Optical Pod
Yes
Protection
Fuselage
Complete Composite Material used for the entire Fuselage
Stealth Properties
No
Heat Signature Reduction
Yes
Add on Armor
INA
EW
INA
Counter Measures (Chaffs/Flares)
INA
Image Sources
Notes
https://uasweekly.com/2018/01/29/chinas-avic-aims-launch-new-wing-loong-d-variant-2018/; https://bulgarianmilitary.com/2022/08/03/china-upgrades-ucav-into-a-high-electromagnetic-jamming-vehicle/; https://www.armyrecognition.com/news/army-news/2018/airshow-china-2018-casic-launches-i-d-version-of-wing-loong-uas;
Details
Country of Origin
China
Category
UAVs
Air > UAVs
Filter Label
W
Classification
Domain
Air & Air Defense
Equipment Status
Active
Dimensions
Length
8.7 m
Width
17.6 m
Height
3.7 m
Weight
330 kg
Operators (2)
China
Egypt
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