 |
| Wing Loong I |
By Benjamin David Baker
China’s new Wing Loong II UAV could potentially offer Beijing wider policy options and boost defense exports.
As I reported earlier this week, China just launched its own version of the MQ-9 Reaper. The Wing Loong II was presented last month in Beijing, at the Aviation Expo China 2015, and has attracted attention due to its similarity to the Reaper.
According to specifications offered by Jane’s, both are powered by a single pusher turboprop engine, place their satellite communication system and primary optical system in the nose, and employ large V-stabilisers with a smaller vertical stabiliser below the empennage. However, the Wing Loong II’s maximum operating ceiling and speed is significantly lower than the Reaper: While the MQ-9 has a maximum speed of 444 km/h and can reach a maximum altitude of 50,000 ft (15,240 m), the Wing Loong II has a maximum speed of 370 km/h and can reach an altitude of 30,000 ft (9,000 m). Furthermore, the Reaper can carry up to 3,750 pounds (1,701 kilograms) of ordinance, while the Wing Loong II can only be equipped with up to 1,050 pounds (480 kilograms).
So how will China use its new UAV? One indication would be to look at its predecessor,the Wing Loong I (also known as the Chengdu Yilong “Pterodactyl I”), as well as other Chinese drones. The Wing Loong I bears a close resemblance to the U.S. MQ-1 Predator UAV and has been employed in the same sort of missions as its American counterpart.
Beijing has used the Wing Loong I for reconnaissance, counter-terrorism and disaster relief in areas plagued by unrest in China itself, such as Xinjiang. Another unarmed drone, the Harbin BZK-005 has been deployed near the Diaoyu/Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea, and there are some reports indicating that there are armed PLAAF drones in the South China Sea.
Some of these missions would be suitable for the Wing Loong II. Its endurance (reportedly 20 hours), service ceiling (9,000 m, 50 percent more than the Wing Loong I), and upgraded sensor could potentially make it a useful tool for Beijing in its disputed areas.
Read the full story at The Diplomat