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China to fly new member of Wing Loong UAS family in 2018

2018-01-25 14:07 Xinhua Editor: Gu Liping

China will launch the Wing Loong ID in 2018, the latest model of the domestically-developed Wing Loong UAS family, with a series for a new model also underway, its developer AVIC has announced.

The Wing Loong ID is developed by Chengdu Aircraft Design & Research Institute (CADI), a subsidiary of the state-owned Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) in southwest China's Sichuan Province. It will conduct it maiden flight and enter the market in 2018, said AVIC at the Wing Loong UAS Development Conference.

"The Wing Loong ID is the first generation of improved reconnaissance-strike UAS in China. With other members of the family, it will help enhance the influence of Wing Loong brand in the global military trade market," said Li Yidong, chief designer of the Wing Loong series and vice chief designer of CADI.

The Wing Loong ID is the improved model of the Wing Loong I UAS.

It is a high-performance, medium-altitude and long-endurance reconnaissance-strike UAS, completely made of composites and newly designed to meet the requirements of market.

"The Wing Loong ID is more affordable in price and more competent in capability than Wing Loong I. It can satisfy various operating requirements of more foreign military sales customers," Li said.

It has the optimization of aerodynamic layout and installation of high-power engine. It is enhanced in takeoff weight, ceiling, endurance, communication, internal carriage and external stores, according to Li.

The Wing Loong ID can play an important role in security, such as intelligence acquisition, surveillance, reconnaissance, counter-terrorism, border patrol, the fight against drug trafficking, and smuggling.

Moreover, it is capable in the civilian domain, such as territorial resources surveys, pipeline inspections, as well as disaster monitoring and evaluation.

The Wing Loong family is a high-end reconnaissance-strike drone series independently developed by China, and its serial development is gaining momentum.

"China started the Wing Long UAS development in 2005. To date, it already has two generations, the Wing Long I and Wing Long II series, respectively," said Ji Xiaoguang, CADI president.

The Wing Long I conducted its maiden flight in 2007. And Wing Loong II successfully completed its maiden flight on Feb. 27 last year, showing that China was capable of developing large-scale reconnaissance-strike UAS to international standards.

"The Wing Loong II has earned the largest order for Chinese UAV in the global foreign military trade. In the future, more series and members of the Wing Loong family are under plan," Ji said.

http://www.ecns.cn/2018/01-25/290047.shtml


Wing Loong ID :D

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http://www.janes.com/article/77379/uae-revealed-as-wing-loong-ii-launch-customer

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The three UAVs seen at Qusahwirah on 22 October 2017 were almost certainly Wing Loong IIs.

Key Points
  • Satellite imagery indicates the UAE is the unnamed Wing Loong II customer
  • Three UAVs matching Wing Loong II dimensions were at Qusahwirah Air Base in October 2017
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) air force has almost certainly acquired the AVIC Wing Loong II medium-altitude, long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). Satellite imagery shows three UAVs matching the Wing Loong II’s dimensions at the UAE’s remote Qusahwirah Air Base near the border with Oman and Saudi Arabia on 22 October 2017.

According to AVIC, the strike-capable Wing Loong II has a length of 11 m and a wingspan of 20.5 m. The dimensions and capabilities of the platform compare closely with the US-built MQ-9 Reaper. The UAE does not possess the MQ-9, nor does Jane’s have knowledge of foreign MQ-9s operating from Qusahwirah, suggesting the UAVs visible in the imagery are Wing Loong IIs.

China’s Xinhua news agency reported on 28 February 2017 that AVIC had secured a major export order for the Wing Loong II from an unidentified country even before the aircraft had taken its first flight, which happened a day earlier.

The report gave no indication when the customer would receive its first UAVs, but AVIC announced earlier in January that intensive testing during the previous 10 months had shown that the system “has met user requirements and possesses full operational capability”. This involved simultaneously controlling two aircraft from the same ground station.

Never publicly acknowledged by the UAE, Qusahwirah Air Base has been a mystery since Google Earth released the first satellite imagery of the expanded facility.

I believe it is Arab Saudi (Al-Arabia As-Saudiyah), or Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in English.

Looks like Country A is United Arab Emirate.
 
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Could be. "X" may stand not for number ten, but for the classified projects, at the time being

According to a reliable eyewitness, one of the WLs falling under "X", the flying wing, is already physical.

As a matter of fact, it has been spotted on the runway several times.

Hence the saying that it(X=3) will be put on the market in 3 years. :D
 
According to a reliable eyewitness, one of the WLs falling under "X", the flying wing, is already physical.

As a matter of fact, it has been spotted on the runway several times

Is it known, whats its aerodynamical configuration ?

Sharp Sword, enlarged Cloud Shadow, american Avenger alike, something else ? :unsure:
 
简氏:中航新型无人机“翼龙1D”
席亚洲
壮哉,五对负重轮!

“彩虹”和“翼龙”这两种无人机的竞争又进入新阶段了。

英国《简氏防务周刊》今天报道称,中国公布“翼龙1D”无人机将在今年开始对外出售。并称之为中国新一代无人机的第一种型号。

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珠海航展上展示的“翼龙1D”模型

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翼龙1D无人机模型,可见该机的载荷能力比此前的翼龙已经有了不小的提高

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哈萨克斯坦的翼龙无人机

这表明,“翼龙1D”终于杀入了已经白热化的世界察打一体无人机市场竞争。

“翼龙1D”其实在此前的珠海航展上就已经以模型方式亮相,该机的主要特色是采用碳纤维复合材料机体。

好处不用说,减轻了结构重量,增加了结构强度,提高了隐身性能。

另外,“翼龙1D”还采用了新的机载电子设备。

具体而言,“翼龙1D”的载荷达到了400公斤,最大续航时间增加到35个小时,实用升限达到7500米。

换言之,载荷几乎翻倍,续航时间增加三分之一,实用升限提高15%。

这意味着该机将可以同时携带较重型的雷达、光电侦察设备和4-8枚空地导弹。

这比“彩虹4”、“翼龙”系列无人机有了较大的提高。同时,相比采用涡轮发动机的“翼龙2”,“翼龙1D”又相对廉价轻巧,续航时间更长,更适合国际市场需求。

此前笔者采访“彩虹5”研制团队的时候,他们也曾表示“翼龙”所采用的材料和技术要比他们的更加高级。这种来自竞争对手的赞美或许对于成飞来说是最“受用”的。

各方面来说,“翼龙1D”都已经达到了国际市场上察打一体无人机的一流水平。

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翼龙2无人机更大,更强,不过也更贵

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阿联酋专门为“翼龙2”建造的支持设施

如果要比较一下,那就是类似于美国陆军的MQ-1C“灰鹰”无人机。

不过呢,“彩虹”当然不会没有应对策略,其实与“翼龙1D”应对的“彩虹”型号,就是"彩虹5”了。

从价格上来说“彩虹5”可能和“翼龙1D”相似,而载弹量,续航时间方面,“彩虹5”因为尺寸较大,有所胜出。飞行性能方面,“翼龙1D”有较大的优势。但“彩虹5”因为采用重油发动机,在续航时间上还是有优势。

这样一比较的话,对于很多国外用户来说,恐怕就有选择困难症了。

目前,沙特已经采购“彩虹4”,并且引进了“彩虹”系列生产线。

而阿联酋则是“翼龙”的爱好者,最近有消息他们连高大上的“翼龙2”都已经开始装备了。

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彩虹和翼龙的大战,鹿死谁手犹未可知啊……

现在“翼龙1D”已经首飞,“彩虹5”已经进行打靶。可以预料,双方在国际市场上将继续展开激烈的竞争。至于美国的“捕食者”和“收割者”(死神)?等特朗普先搞定自己的国会,再出来卖吧……

(观察者网综合报道,席亚洲)


The competition between "rainbow" and "pterodactyl" drones has entered a new phase. The British "Jane's Defense Weekly" reported today that China announced the "Pterosaur 1D" UAV will be sold overseas this year. And call it the first model of a new generation of UAVs in China.
Zhuhai air show on display "Pterosaur 1D" model 500 Pterosaur 1D UAV model, we can see that the aircraft's loading capacity than the previous Pterosaur has been no small improvement
Pterosaur UAV of Kazakhstan
This shows that "Pterosaur 1D" has finally reached the white-hot world Chadian UAV competition in the market. "Pterosaur 1D" In fact, before the Zhuhai Airshow on the model has been unveiled, the main features of the aircraft is the use of carbon fiber composite body. Needless to say, reducing the weight of the structure, increasing the structural strength and improving the stealth performance. In addition, "pterodactyl 1D" also adopted a new airborne electronic equipment. Specifically, "Pterosaur 1D" load reached 400 kg, the maximum life time increased to 35 hours, the practical ceiling reached 7500 meters. In other words, the load almost doubled, the life time increased by one third, and the practical ceiling increased by 15%. This means it will be able to carry heavier radars, photoelectric reconnaissance equipment and 4-8 land-to-air missiles simultaneously. This is "Rainbow 4", "pterodactyl" series UAV has been greatly improved. At the same time, compared to the "Pterodrome 2" with turbine engine, "Pterosaur 1D" is relatively cheap and lightweight, longer life, more suitable for the needs of the international market. Previously I interviewed "Rainbow 5" development team, they also said that "pterosaurs" materials and techniques used by them more advanced. This compliment from competitors may be the most "used" for the company. In all respects, "Pterosaur 1D" has reached the first-class level in the international market with a UAV.
Pterodactyl 2 UAV bigger and stronger, but also more expensive
UAE specifically for the "Pterodrome 2" built support facilities

If you want to compare, that is similar to the US Army's MQ-1C "Gray Eagle" UAV. However, "Rainbow" of course, no strategy to deal with, in fact, and "Pterodactyl 1D" response "Rainbow" model is "Rainbow 5" the. From the price point of view, "Rainbow 5" may be similar to "Pterosaur 1D", while loading capacity, battery life, "Rainbow 5" because of larger size, won. Flight performance, "Pterosaur 1D" has greater advantages. However, "Rainbow 5" because of the heavy-oil engine, there is still an advantage in the life time. Such a comparison, for many foreign users, I am afraid there is a choice of difficulty. At present, Saudi Arabia has purchased "Rainbow 4" and introduced "Rainbow" series production line. The United Arab Emirates is a "pterodactyl" fans, recently there is news that they are tall on the "Pterodactyl 2" have already begun to equip.
Rainbow and pterodactyl wrestling, the winner is still unknown ah ...... Now "Pterosaur 1D" has the first flight, "Rainbow 5" has been targeted. It can be expected that both parties will continue to fierce competition in the international market. As for the United States "predators" and "reaper" (death)? Wait for Trump to get his parliament first and then sell it out ... (Observer Network comprehensive coverage, seats Asia)
 
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