Basic Information

Name

Wing Loong I Chinese Medium-Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)

Designation

—

Alternate Designation

Pterodactyl I., PLAAF refer to it as Gonji-1 (Attack-1)

Equipment Type

—

Manufacturer

Chengdu Aircraft Corporation

Date of Introduction

2011

Description

The Chengdu Pterodactyl, also known as Wing Loong, 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. It is designed for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions. The air vehicle can also be equipped with weapons for strike operations and perform civil missions such as disaster assessment, meteorological and environmental protection. The system has been compared, at least in appearance, to the U.S. MQ-1 Predator. Based on official marketing material released by CADI, the Pterodactyl can carry the BA-7 air-to-ground missile, YZ-212 laser-guided bomb, YZ-102A anti-personnel bomb and 50-kilogram LS-6 miniature guided bomb.

Air & Air Defense Specifications

Engine Four-Stroke, Four-Cylinder, Horizontally Opposed Aircraft Engine (100 hp)

Range 200.0 km

Endurance 20.00 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, 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.

SkySaker The Sky Saker is a derivative of Wing Loong developed by Norinco mainly intended for export. The Chinese name is Rui Ying, 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, 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, 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).

Wing Loong ID Upgraded variant of the Wing Loong I, with improved aerodynamics and engine enabling greater takeoff weight, service ceiling, and endurance. Other upgrades include both internal and external stores, as well as communications equipment. The variant launched in 2018 with Egypt being the first buyer of 32 systems. The variant achieved its first flight on 23 December 2018

System

Alternative Designation Pterodactyl I., PLAAF refer to it as Gonji-1 (Attack-1)

Type UAV Medium-Altitude Long-Endurance (MALE)

Expected out of Service Date 2038

Manufacturer Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group

Cost Less than $:1 Million each

Primary Function Surveillance and Aerial Reconnaissance Platform

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 The ground control station features dedicated consoles for the pilot and weapon/sensors operators. Three workstations are provided, each one equipped with at least two joysticks and a couple of liquid-crystal displays.

Complete System Includes Four air vehicles; a ground-control station; mission payloads; and an integrated logistic support system.

Ceiling, Maximum 8,000 m

Ceiling, Minimum INA m

Range 4,000 km

Endurance 20 hours

Data Transmit Distance 200 km

Location Positioning System GPS

Wing type Fixed Mid-Mounted

Number of Hard Points 2 ea

Launch System Runway,(1 km Runway needed for Launch)

Takeoff Roll 600 m

Manned-Unmanned Teaming (MUM-T) Capable INA

Automatic Landing and Takeoff Capability Yes

Recovery System Runway

Landing Gear Retractable tricycle landing gear, with two main wheels under the fuselage and a single wheel under the nose.

Landing Distance 800 m

Proliferation China: +100, Saudi Arabia: INA, Egypt: 3, Kazakhstan: 2, Pakistan:2 and the UAE: 5.

Dimensions

Length 9.05 m

Height 2.77 m

Width (Wing Span) 14 m

Gross Weight 1,100 kg

Weight, Maximum Takeoff 1,540 kg

Weight, Payload 200 kg

Automotive

Engine Name Rotax 914 Turbocharged Engine

Engine Type Four-Stroke, Four-Cylinder, Horizontally Opposed Aircraft Engine

Engine Power 100 hp

Number of Engines 1 ea

Cruising Range INA km

Speed, Maximum 280 km/h

Speed, Average 222 km/h

Endurance 20 hour

Payload 200 kg

Propellers Type 3-Blade

Communications

Radio Satellite Communications Antenna

Encrypted Data Link Yes

Armament & Ammunition

Air to Air Missiles INA

Air to Ground Missiles Yes, can carry the BA-7 air-to-ground missile, YZ-212 laser-guided bomb, YZ-102A anti-personnel bomb and 50-kilogram LS-6 miniature guided bomb.

Missile Type BRM1, AKD-10

Bomb Type FT-10, FT-9, FT-7, GB7, GB4

Armament Weight Total 1,000 kg

Fire Control

Fire Control System Type INA

Fire Control Radar INA

Radar Type Synthetic Aperture Radar

Radar Designator Yes

Laser Rangefinder Yes

Laser Designator Yes

Full-Motion Video Yes, High-Definition TV Cameras

Still Camera Yes

Thermal Imaging Sensors Yes

Forward Looking Infrared Turret Yes

Electro Optical Pod Yes, Loong Eye LE380 electro-optical sensor pod

Sensor Turret Diameter 380 mm

Sensor Turret Height 550 mm

Sensor Turret Weight 39 kg

Sensor Turret Traverse 360 deg

Sensor Turret Elevation -130 to 30 deg

Protection

Fuselage Conventional aluminium fuselage supported by composite structural components

Stealth Properties INA

Heat Signature Reduction Yes

Add on Armor INA

EW INA

EW Counter Measures / CCM Yes

Counter Measures (Chaffs/Flares) INA

Image Sources

Notes https://asiatimes.com/2018/10/china-sells-drones-transfers-drone-technology-to-pakistan/; https://suryamalam.blogspot.com/2016/03/chengdu-pterodactyl-i-wing-loong-medium.html; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CAIG_Wing_Loong;