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Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, who was in China last week to participate in the World Economic Forum "Summer Davos", has signed in Beijing a major contract to acquire Wing Loong military drones with the Chinese aircraft manufacturer AVIC.
The information was first revealed on September 16 by Večernje Novosti, a local Serbian press, before being picked up by state news agency Tanjug. We learn then that six "last generation drones", including two armed, should be part of agreements signed between the two countries on a total amount of three billion dollars.
Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić with Chinese Premier Li Ke Qiang (Photo: Xinhua News Agency)
Without specifying the exact model concerned by this particular contract, the text nevertheless highlights that a high-ranking delegation of Vojska Srbije visited Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group two months ago. This subsidiary of the Chinese aircraft manufacturer AVIC now produces many aircraft like the J-10 and J-20, alongside the Wing Loong I, Wing Loong ID and Wing Loong II drones as well as the EA-03 for the Chinese army.
Of these, only the Wing Loong ID, an all-composite variant of Wing Loong I expected to make its maiden flight before the end of the year , and the four-ton Wing Loong II both correspond to the description of "drones". last generation "and" armed drones ".
Knowing that the assembly will be done in Serbia with components coming from China, still according to the Serbian newspaper, and that the aeronautical industry of the country has a priori no experience in the production of the drones of an MTOW of more of a ton, it seems more logical that the acquisition is carried out initially on the smaller model which is the Wing Loong ID, before possibly later to Wing Loong II four times larger.
It should be noted that there is only 80 kg difference in the external carrying capacity between these two models of Chinese drone, but it would be more accessible technologically and industrially for the Serbian industry to start with a drone mid-size, knowing that the Military Technical Institute (VTI), the largest Serbian arms development institution directly attached to the Ministry of Defense, has already designed and manufactured the 120 kg Pegaz military drone a few years.
The WD-1K drones, Chinese version of Wing Loong I, operated by the Chinese Air Force
Wing Loong ID, a 100% composite variant of Wing Loong I, is expected to fly before the end of the year
Wing Loong II begins to be delivered to customers in Middle East
It is not yet known where the Wing Loong drones will be deployed once the local assembly in Serbia is completed and certified, but it is plausible that the venue is close to the production entity to facilitate logistical support. The airbase of the 204th Brigade based in Batajnica, located not far from Belgrade and also from the VTI, could then be preferred, but this remains to be confirmed.
The base of the 98th Brigade in Niš could also be the other possible choice, knowing the increased tension in southern Serbia with Kosovo and Albania in recent times. The deployment of Chinese drones with a 35-hour autonomy in flight will enhance the reconnaissance capability of the Serbian army in the region, but the timing seems more than tense for such a deployment to be really useful right away.
Serbian airbases likely to receive new Wing Loong drones and LOS range (Image: East Pendulum)
Characteristics Wing Loong I Wing Loong ID Wing Loong II CH-5
builder AVIC 611th Chengdu AVIC 611th Chengdu AVIC 611th Chengdu CASC CAAA
Length 9.05 m 8.70 m 11.00 m
span 14.00 m 17.60 m 20.50 m 21.50 meters
Height 2.77 m 3.20 m 4.10 m
MTOW 1 100 kg 1500 kg 4,200 kg 3,300 kg (?)
Tank 275 kg
Internal charges 200 kg 200 kg 200 kg
Maximum external loads 200 kg 400 kg 480 kg 1,000 kg
Points of carriage 2 4 6
(12 ammunition maximum) 6
(16 ammunition maximum)
Propulsion Rotax 914 piston engine (New) Turboprop WJ-9A Piston engine
(Oil)
Propulsion Power 100 hp 600 hp 300 hp
Maximum speed 280 km / h 280 km / h 370 km / h 220 km / h
Minimum speed 150 km / h 160 km / h
Ceiling 5,000 m 7,500 m 9000 m 7,600 m
Endurance (FH) 20 FH 35 FH 20 FH on an armed mission 40 to 60 FH max.
30 FH with 8 AR-1 missiles
Endurance (km) 4000 km 6,500 to 10,000 km
Takeoff distance 800 m 1,000 m
Landing distance 600 m 1,200 meters
Beam by LOS link 250 km 200 km 250 km
Radius by satellite link 2,000 km 2,000 km
Production cost 1/4 of MQ-9 Reaper
Unit price € 4.87 million to € 8.00 million
Appeared for the first time in 2016 at the Zhuhai Air Show, the Wing Loong ID, presented as a model at the time, is designed primarily to meet the needs in military reconnaissance, border surveillance and the fight against terrorism. contraband and anti-terrorist.
The Chengdu 611 design office plans to equip its new entry-level composite drone with a high-definition optronic ball and a synthetic aperture radar (SAR). But the locations are already planned to add communication or electronic intelligence instruments, and the four points of carriage will also allow the Wing Loong ID to transform into an armed drone with more than 10 models of guided laser or GPS munitions. According to Večernje Novosti, the Chinese drones acquired by Serbia will be equipped with laser guided missiles and bombs.
Countries using Wing Loong I and Wing Loong II drones (Image: East Pendulum)
If this new sale is confirmed in Serbia, it will also mean that the Wing Loong family officially entered the European market after its many successes in Middle East and Central Asia. The "proliferation" of Chinese drones would therefore take a new turn and have a significant impact on the African market potential.
To be continued.
Henri K.
The information was first revealed on September 16 by Večernje Novosti, a local Serbian press, before being picked up by state news agency Tanjug. We learn then that six "last generation drones", including two armed, should be part of agreements signed between the two countries on a total amount of three billion dollars.
Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić with Chinese Premier Li Ke Qiang (Photo: Xinhua News Agency)
Without specifying the exact model concerned by this particular contract, the text nevertheless highlights that a high-ranking delegation of Vojska Srbije visited Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group two months ago. This subsidiary of the Chinese aircraft manufacturer AVIC now produces many aircraft like the J-10 and J-20, alongside the Wing Loong I, Wing Loong ID and Wing Loong II drones as well as the EA-03 for the Chinese army.
Of these, only the Wing Loong ID, an all-composite variant of Wing Loong I expected to make its maiden flight before the end of the year , and the four-ton Wing Loong II both correspond to the description of "drones". last generation "and" armed drones ".
Knowing that the assembly will be done in Serbia with components coming from China, still according to the Serbian newspaper, and that the aeronautical industry of the country has a priori no experience in the production of the drones of an MTOW of more of a ton, it seems more logical that the acquisition is carried out initially on the smaller model which is the Wing Loong ID, before possibly later to Wing Loong II four times larger.
It should be noted that there is only 80 kg difference in the external carrying capacity between these two models of Chinese drone, but it would be more accessible technologically and industrially for the Serbian industry to start with a drone mid-size, knowing that the Military Technical Institute (VTI), the largest Serbian arms development institution directly attached to the Ministry of Defense, has already designed and manufactured the 120 kg Pegaz military drone a few years.
The WD-1K drones, Chinese version of Wing Loong I, operated by the Chinese Air Force
Wing Loong ID, a 100% composite variant of Wing Loong I, is expected to fly before the end of the year
Wing Loong II begins to be delivered to customers in Middle East
It is not yet known where the Wing Loong drones will be deployed once the local assembly in Serbia is completed and certified, but it is plausible that the venue is close to the production entity to facilitate logistical support. The airbase of the 204th Brigade based in Batajnica, located not far from Belgrade and also from the VTI, could then be preferred, but this remains to be confirmed.
The base of the 98th Brigade in Niš could also be the other possible choice, knowing the increased tension in southern Serbia with Kosovo and Albania in recent times. The deployment of Chinese drones with a 35-hour autonomy in flight will enhance the reconnaissance capability of the Serbian army in the region, but the timing seems more than tense for such a deployment to be really useful right away.
Serbian airbases likely to receive new Wing Loong drones and LOS range (Image: East Pendulum)
Characteristics Wing Loong I Wing Loong ID Wing Loong II CH-5
builder AVIC 611th Chengdu AVIC 611th Chengdu AVIC 611th Chengdu CASC CAAA
Length 9.05 m 8.70 m 11.00 m
span 14.00 m 17.60 m 20.50 m 21.50 meters
Height 2.77 m 3.20 m 4.10 m
MTOW 1 100 kg 1500 kg 4,200 kg 3,300 kg (?)
Tank 275 kg
Internal charges 200 kg 200 kg 200 kg
Maximum external loads 200 kg 400 kg 480 kg 1,000 kg
Points of carriage 2 4 6
(12 ammunition maximum) 6
(16 ammunition maximum)
Propulsion Rotax 914 piston engine (New) Turboprop WJ-9A Piston engine
(Oil)
Propulsion Power 100 hp 600 hp 300 hp
Maximum speed 280 km / h 280 km / h 370 km / h 220 km / h
Minimum speed 150 km / h 160 km / h
Ceiling 5,000 m 7,500 m 9000 m 7,600 m
Endurance (FH) 20 FH 35 FH 20 FH on an armed mission 40 to 60 FH max.
30 FH with 8 AR-1 missiles
Endurance (km) 4000 km 6,500 to 10,000 km
Takeoff distance 800 m 1,000 m
Landing distance 600 m 1,200 meters
Beam by LOS link 250 km 200 km 250 km
Radius by satellite link 2,000 km 2,000 km
Production cost 1/4 of MQ-9 Reaper
Unit price € 4.87 million to € 8.00 million
Appeared for the first time in 2016 at the Zhuhai Air Show, the Wing Loong ID, presented as a model at the time, is designed primarily to meet the needs in military reconnaissance, border surveillance and the fight against terrorism. contraband and anti-terrorist.
The Chengdu 611 design office plans to equip its new entry-level composite drone with a high-definition optronic ball and a synthetic aperture radar (SAR). But the locations are already planned to add communication or electronic intelligence instruments, and the four points of carriage will also allow the Wing Loong ID to transform into an armed drone with more than 10 models of guided laser or GPS munitions. According to Večernje Novosti, the Chinese drones acquired by Serbia will be equipped with laser guided missiles and bombs.
Countries using Wing Loong I and Wing Loong II drones (Image: East Pendulum)
If this new sale is confirmed in Serbia, it will also mean that the Wing Loong family officially entered the European market after its many successes in Middle East and Central Asia. The "proliferation" of Chinese drones would therefore take a new turn and have a significant impact on the African market potential.
To be continued.
Henri K.
