×
Aircraft / Aviation Vehicles & Artillery Small Arms Warships & Submarines Military Ranks Military Pay Scale (2024) Special Forces

Chengdu (AVIC) Wing-Loong (Pterodactyl)


Medium-Altitude, Long-Endurance (MALE) Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)


China | 2014



"The Chengdu Wing Loong UAV drone serves double-duty for several global customers beyond China as it can be modified to undertake various over-battlefield roles including attack."

Power & Performance
Those special qualities that separate one aircraft design from another. Performance specifications presented assume optimal operating conditions for the Chengdu Wing-Loong I Medium-Altitude, Long-Endurance (MALE) Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV).
1 x Conventionally-powered engine driving a three-bladed propeller in pusher configuration at rear of fuselage.
Propulsion
174 mph
280 kph | 151 kts
Max Speed
16,404 ft
5,000 m | 3 miles
Service Ceiling
3,107 miles
5,000 km | 2,700 nm
Operational Range
Structure
The nose-to-tail, wingtip-to-wingtip physical qualities of the Chengdu Wing-Loong I Medium-Altitude, Long-Endurance (MALE) Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV).
0
(UNMANNED)
Crew
29.7 ft
9.05 m
O/A Length
45.9 ft
(14.00 m)
O/A Width
9.1 ft
(2.77 m)
O/A Height
2,425 lb
(1,100 kg)
MTOW
Armament
Available supported armament and special-mission equipment featured in the design of the Chengdu (AVIC) Wing-Loong (Pterodactyl) Medium-Altitude, Long-Endurance (MALE) Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) provided across 6 hardpoints.
Typically sensor equipment for ISR role but also up to 220lb of externally-held air-to-surface missiles or precision-guided drop munitions held across six total underwing hardpoints (three to a wing).

Known supported ordnance:
KD-10 / BA-7 "Blue Arrow" laser-guided Anti-Tank (AT) missiles.
YZ-102A Laser-Guided Bomb (LGB).
FT-9 WL missile.
GB-7 missile.


X
X
X
X
X
X
Hardpoints Key:


Centerline
Wingroot(L)
Wingroot(R)
Wing
Wingtip
Internal
Not Used
Variants
Notable series variants as part of the Chengdu (AVIC) Wing-Loong (Pterodactyl) family line.
Wing-Loong - Base Series Designation
Pterosaur I - Original flying model of 2005
Wing-Loong I - Alternative name; first-flight in 2009; single underwing hardpoint.
Wing-Loong II - Improved, upgraded model with increased support for underwing munitions; 70% composite construction; 36-foot wingspan; 9,300lb weight; 1,058lb payload; six underwing hardpoints; winglets added to latest versions; more powerful diesel-fueled engine for enhanced performance.
WJ-1 - Land-attack model; sans chin blister; debuted November 2014.
GJ-1 - PLAAF service designation; land-attack model; improved capability including self-designation of targets; underwing weapons support and chin blister housing optics set.
GJ-2 - New military designation unveiled on a static Wing-Loong II display at Zhuhai Air Show 2018; showcased in PLAAF colors.
Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 11/08/2022 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site; No A.I. was used in the generation of this content.

The Chengdu Pterodactyl I (also known as the Wing-Loong I) was unveiled by company representatives during the China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition (Zhuhai) in 2010. The system is a "Medium-Altitude, Long-Endurance" (MALE) Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) with provision having been developed to convert the type into an Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle (UCAV) by supporting various precision munition options. A first-flight is believed to have occurred during 2009 and flight testing into 2013. At least one prototype was lost during development.

Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group (CAC) holds a decades-long history concerning modern Chinese aviation, having begun operations as a manufacturer of Soviet-originated jet aircraft during the Cold War during a time when a close relationship between the two Asian powers ruled. Since then, the concern has evolved to designing, developing and producing largely indigenous products for use by the Chinese military and allies (the latter only when export is approved). The Pterodactyl UAV is one such creation, approved for export and, to date, having been evaluated (though not selected) by Pakistan for its MALE UAV requirement.

Externally, the Pterodactyl showcases an appearance not unlike the American "Predator" UAV series, complete with its bulbous nose housing, streamlined fuselage, wheeled undercarriage and outward cranked vertical tail fins. The main wing assemblies are also straight appendages and can hold underwing stores (it is envisioned that the system will make use of up to four underwing guided bombs or missiles). A blister, held under the nose, contains traversing optics. The undercarriage is wheeled for easier management of the system by ground personnel and is fully-retractable into the body of the vehicle when in flight - all of the legs retract rearwards to promote strong aerodynamic qualities. Power is served through a rear-mounted conventional engine driving a three-bladed propeller assembly in a "pusher" configuration.

Internally, the Pterodactyl is being testing with various equipment packages. The aircraft is suspected to carry a synthetic aperture radar system as well as FLIR (Forward-Looking Infra-Red). The total listed payload of the Pterodactyl series is expected to be in the vicinity of 220lbs on production-quality models. Listed specifications include a 175 mile per hour maximum speed, 2,500 mile operational range (with 20 hour mission endurance time reported) and an operating service ceiling of 16,400 feet.

The Wing-Loong II is a modified, upgraded model with greater support for munitions-carrying - up to twelve-air-to-surface missiles are promoted at underwing hadpoints. It sports a 9,300lb weight and 36-foot wingspan.

Content ©MilitaryFactory.com; No Reproduction Permitted.

February 2017 - The advanced Wing-Loong II made its first-flight on February 27th, 2017. The flight lasted 31 minutes.

June 2017 - The Wing-Loong II was showcased at the Paris Air Show 2017.

October 2018 - Pakistan has committed to the purchase of a fleet of Wing Loong II series attack UAVs from China.

November 2018 - The Wing-Loong II was displayed for the first time at the Zhuhai static park complete with PLAAF colors and the designation of "GJ-2".

September 2019 - Serbia has been confirmed as a customer of the Wing-Loong uAV.

February 2020 - The Wing Loong 2 has been operationally used over Libya by the Libyan National Army.

November 2020 - Nigeria is set to receive a pair of Wing-Loong II armed UAVs from China.

Operators
Global customers who have evaluated and/or operated the Chengdu (AVIC) Wing-Loong (Pterodactyl). Nations are displayed by flag, each linked to their respective national aircraft listing.

Total Production: 250 Units

Contractor(s): Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group / Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) - China
National flag of China National flag of Egypt National flag of Indonesia National flag of Kazakhstan National flag of Libya National flag of Nigeria National flag of Pakistan National flag of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia National flag of Serbia National flag of the United Arab Emirates National flag of Uzbekistan

[ China; Egypt; Indonesia; Kazakhstan; Libya (Libyan National Army); Nigeria; Pakistan; Saudi Arabia; Serbia; United Arab Emirates; Uzbekistan ]
1 / 1
Image of the Chengdu (AVIC) Wing-Loong (Pterodactyl)
Image copyright www.MilitaryFactory.com; No Reproduction Permitted.

Similar
Developments of similar form-and-function, or related, to the Chengdu (AVIC) Wing-Loong (Pterodactyl) Medium-Altitude, Long-Endurance (MALE) Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Specifications and Pictures.
Going Further...
The Chengdu (AVIC) Wing-Loong (Pterodactyl) Medium-Altitude, Long-Endurance (MALE) Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) appears in the following collections:
HOME
AVIATION INDEX
AIRCRAFT BY COUNTRY
AIRCRAFT MANUFACTURERS
COMPARE AIRCRAFT
AIRCRAFT BY CONFLICT
AIRCRAFT BY TYPE
AIRCRAFT BY DECADE
MODERN AIRCRAFT
DRONE TECHNOLOGY
Disclaimer | Privacy Policy | Cookies

2024 Military Pay Scale Military Ranks of the World U.S. Department of Defense Dictionary Conversion Calculators Military Alphabet Code Military Map Symbols Breakdown U.S. 5-Star Generals List WWII Weapons by Country World War Next

The "Military Factory" name and MilitaryFactory.com logo are registered ® U.S. trademarks protected by all applicable domestic and international intellectual property laws. All written content, illustrations, and photography are unique to this website (unless where indicated) and not for reuse/reproduction in any form. Material presented throughout this website is for historical and entertainment value only and should not to be construed as usable for hardware restoration, maintenance, or general operation. We do not sell any of the items showcased on this site. Please direct all other inquiries to militaryfactory AT gmail.com. No A.I. was used in the generation of this content.

Part of a network of sites that includes GlobalFirepower, a data-driven property used in ranking the top military powers of the world, WDMMA.org (World Directory of Modern Military Aircraft), WDMMW.org (World Directory of Modern Military Warships), SR71blackbird.org, detailing the history of the world's most iconic spyplane, and MilitaryRibbons.info, cataloguing military medals and ribbons. Special Interest: RailRoad Junction, the locomotive encyclopedia.


©2024 www.MilitaryFactory.com • All Rights Reserved • Content ©2003-2024 (21yrs)