Chinese UAV News & Discussions (Strictly)

[IblinI]

I bet 2 Potatoes for KSA (export ofc)

KSA just signed a contract for locally producing CH series, isn't it?

 

[clibra]

12 new college graduates started CH series UAV in 2001 with a total budget of around $800 K. This is their story. What they have done and how they do it.

But they are backed by the world lagest industrial country.
if the 12 young men were in another country, they can't make it.

 

[Deino]

There were almost zero informations about WL II and CH 5 since november

I only remeber picture of tehnician working something on WL II and short statment about imminent delivery. Maybe some additional "brushing" of software or hardware is required. Dont know what to think. I ll keep monitoring the issue, not if I had something better to do

Indeed and therefore my surprise. I remember a first image of a prototype since March 2015 ... so why that delay ?

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2017-02/28/c_136089591.htm

China Exclusive: China's domestic Wing-Loong II UAS conducts maiden flight

YINCHUAN, Feb.27 (Xinhua) -- China's home-developed Wing-Loong II, the new reconnaissance and strike multi-role endurance Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS), successfully completed its maiden flight Monday.

With a more than 20 meter wingspan, the yellow Wing-Loong II No.01 made its appearance on the runway of a highland airfield in western China at noon Monday, before conducting a 31-minute flight.

"Its flight marks China's new generation reconnaissance and strike UAS. Following the United States, China becomes another country capable of developing such new generation large reconnaissance and strike UAS," said Li Yidong, chief designer of the Wing-Loong UAS series.

The Wing-Loong UAS series were developed by Chengdu Aircraft Design and Research Institute (CADI) of the state-owned Aviation Industry Corporation of China.

Li said it showed that China had the capability to deliver new generation reconnaissance and strike UAS products to foreign military customers.

In fact, the Wing-Loong II has already won the biggest overseas purchase order in the history of Chinese UAS foreign military sales, even before its maiden flight.

The Wing-Loong II is a medium-altitude, long-endurance, multi-role UAS integrated with both reconnaissance and strike capabilities.

It is composed of the Wing-Loong II unmanned aircraft, GCS, mission payload and a ground support system.

Its unmanned aircraft is 11 meters in length, 4.1 meters in height, and 20.5 meters in wingspan. The maximum flying altitude of the aircraft is 9km, with a flying speed reaching up to 340km per hour.

It has a maximum take-off weight of 4.2 tonnes, with an external carriage weight of 480kg, and can fly for 20 hours in a persistent mission cruise.

Li said that the Wing-Loong II could perform reconnaissance, surveillance and ground strike missions.

"It can rapidly identify then strike against time-critical and fleeting targets. The capability is not possessed by previous unmanned aircraft, even manned aircraft," Li said. "Taking a look at the UAS in same class around the world, the Wing-Loong II is equivalent to the U.S. MQ-9 Reaper, and ranks in the first level on the UAS list."

With a system extension, it can also perform intelligence collection, electronic warfare, search and rescue missions, and has several uses, including military, anti-terrorism, peace keeping, border patrol operations and civilian use.

 

[IblinI]

Indeed and therefore my surprise. I remember a first image of a prototype since March 2015 ... so why that delay ?
View attachment 380507

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2017-02/28/c_136089591.htm

During the Zhuhai airshow, the report states that the Wingloong has already secure a big deal even before its maiden flight.

 

[zestokryl]

I remember a first image of a prototype since March 2015 ... so why that delay ?

That photo of the propeller cone was apparently fake

Prototype requires at least months of testing, verification, integration. So it seems, deliveries will have to wait. Since, as it seems, actual maiden flight took place, just now. Wondering where is CH 5 in terms of export readiness

 

[Zarvan]

China secures its 'biggest' military export order for new UAV system

China announced on 27 February that its Wing Loong II UAV had completed its maiden flight. Source: Via Sina.com.cn

China has secured an international contract for its Wing Loong II strike-capable reconnaissance unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), marking another milestone in the country's bid to become a major military exporter.

China's state-run Xinhua news agency reported on 28 February said the deal represented the "biggest overseas purchase order in the history of Chinese [UAV] foreign military sales". The identity of the customer and the size and value of the contract were not disclosed.

The export order was revealed on the same day that the Wing Loong II completed its maiden flight.

Li Yidong, chief designer of the Wing-Loong UAV series, was quoted by Xinhua as saying, "[This first flight] marks China's new generation reconnaissance and strike [UAV]. Following the United States, China becomes another country capable of developing such new-generation large reconnaissance and strike UAVs."

Li added that the Wing Loong II has been developed to perform reconnaissance, surveillance, and ground strike operations but with system extensions it can also perform missions including intelligence collection, electronic warfare, and search and rescue.

The Wing Loong II was developed by the Chengdu Aircraft Design and Research Institute (CADI), a subsidiary of the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC). A production-ready version of the UAV was unveiled at the Airshow China 2016 exhibition in early November 2016.

CADI also developed and built the first-generation Wing Loong I medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) UAV. The first-generation Wing Loong I has been exported to the Kazakhstan Air Defence Forces, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. It is also operated by the People's Liberation Army Air Force.

Jane's has previously reported that the Wing Loong II bears a strong resemblance to the General Atomics Aeronautical Systems MQ-9 Reaper UAV, with its low-wing monoplane slender fuselage and empennage with a prominent V-tail and ventral fin.

The platform is constructed from composites, with official AVIC literature quoting an overall length of 11 m, a wingspan of 20.5 m, and a height of 4.1 m.

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http://www.janes.com/article/68308/...gest-military-export-order-for-new-uav-system

 

[HannibalBarca]

KSA just signed a contract for locally producing CH series, isn't it?

CH and Wing long not the same manufacturer, therefore not the same supplier...

 

[IblinI]

CH and Wing long not the same manufacturer, therefore not the same supplier...

I am aware of it, but why CH then again purchase wingloong?

 

[cirr]

Next generation Wing Loong(WL-III?):

higher mobility, speedier, more stealthy, smarter, higher level of artificial intelligence and self-learning ability.

-Li Yidong, chief designer of the Wing-Loong UAV series

 

[zestokryl]

Next generation Wing Loong(WL-III?):

Bring this baby first :

http://www.eastpendulum.com/wp-cont...sai-réussi-pour-le-drone-Wing-Loong-II-02.jpg



Self learning abilities are the matter of no less than 3 to 5 years probably. For now, improvements in engines, body structure and materials, additional sensors are enough

 

[onebyone]

Latest-generation Chinese combat drone makes maiden flight

China's latest-generation combat drone has made its maiden flight in what its developer says is a sign that the country is catching up with industry leader the United States.

The Wing Loong II that flew for the first time on Monday can carry up to 480 kilograms (1,058 pounds) of bombs and missiles, tucking six under each wing, according to information viewed Wednesday on the Aviation Industry Corporation of China's microblog.

The drone has a wingspan of 20.5 meters (67-feet-3 inches), can stay airborne up to 20 hours and fly at a maximum altitude of 9,000 meters (29,500 feet), according to the company known as AVIC.

The drone's successful test flight "allows China to follow the U.S. in producing a new generation of integrated surveillance and combat unmanned aerial vehicles," the company said in the microblog posting.

State media say the drone should become a leading export item for China following the success of the original Wing Loong that has been sold to a number of countries, including several in the Middle East. Along with inexpensive fighter jets and navy patrol boats, drones are a high-tech standout item among China's substantial exports of more workaday weaponry such as assault rifles and rocket launchers.

While both the Wing Loong II's advertised payload and cruising altitude fall well short compared with the MQ-9 Reaper in service with the U.S. military, it is expected to be highly competitive on price.

While AVIC didn't provide the cost of a Wing Loong II, its predecessor, with a payload of only about 100 kilograms (220 pounds), reportedly sold for about $1 million each, a fraction of the Reaper's $14.75 million price tag.

http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/latest-generation-chinese-combat-drone-makes-maiden-flight-45825001

 

[zestokryl]

 

[ahojunk]

China’s New Yilong 2 Drone as Good as US MQ-9 Reaper
Posted: March 4, 2017 | Author: chankaiyee2 |

China announced on 27 February that its Wing Loong II (Yilong 2) UAV had completed its maiden flight.
Source: Via Sina.com.cn

In an interview with China’s Science and Technology Daily on February 28, Yilong unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) chief designer Li Yidong says, “In the past, a UAV was controlled mostly by human instructions, but Yilong 2 has in the main been free from human operation. Various kinds of operation laws and methods have been written into a software system, which is the brightest advantage of Yilong 2 UAV.”

According to Li, there is only the need to input a preset instruction for Yilong 2 to complete a task. The pilot’s task is mainly supervision and control. He will not interfere unless there is something abnormal or need to change the task during the flight.

Li says that he prefers turboprop to turbojet due to its light weight, high power and low fuel consumption. That engine combined with the optimal aerodynamic shape and long wingspan lengthens the UAV’s endurance.

The stealth design of Yilong 2 UAV mainly aims at prevention of discovery by sight and sound. Yilong’s small size and quiet engine make it hard to detect by its target.

Yilong 2’s takeoff weight is 4.2 tons, can carry 480 kg weapons to remain in air for 20 hours with service ceiling of 9,000 meters and maximum speed of 370 km/hour. It is equipped with synthetic aperture radar and armed with laser-guided missiles and GPS-guided bombs. It is thus as advanced in functions and performance as US MQ-9 Reaper.

However, Li is developing a new version of Yilong to make it faster and more maneuverable and stealth with better artificial intelligence and even the learning ability to change its operation automatically when it receives an instruction to change its task during its flight.

Source: Science and Technology Daily “Chief Designer: The next-generation of Yilong UAV will be better stealth with more artificial intelligence” (summary by Chan Kai Yee based on the report in Chinese)

 

[IblinI]

Bring this baby first :

http://www.eastpendulum.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/2017-03-01-Premier-vol-dessai-réussi-pour-le-drone-Wing-Loong-II-02.jpg



Self learning abilities are the matter of no less than 3 to 5 years probably. For now, improvements in engines, body structure and materials, additional sensors are enough

The Chinese "Avenger"?

 

[帅的一匹]

1/15th price of MQ-9 and WL II can give out 70% plus performance of MQ-9. It will grab a lot of Market share for a China. This is just the beginning.