AVIC Cloud Shadow

High-Altitude, Long-Endurance (HALE) Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle (UCAV) [ 2019 ]

The AVIC Cloud Shadow UCAV has been designed by Chinese aero-industry for the export market.

Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 06/22/2022 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site.

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The Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) market continues to grow and, for larger aero-industries like that of China, this means untapped potential in the lucrative export market. As a result, the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) has unveiled the "Cloud Shadow" UAV/UCAV during the 11th Zhuhai Air Show in November of 2016. The aircraft is a development of Chengdu Aerospace Corporation (CAC) which falls under the AVIC parent label.

The product on display showcases a very sleek, stealth-like appearance akin to the General Atomics Avenger Unmanned Air Combat Vehicle (UCAV) offering. The bulbous nose assembly is well-streamlined and tapers to the rear to which an air scoop is set over the dorsal line. The scoop is straddled by outward-canted vertical fins. The wing mainplanes are swept back and featured along midships of the fuselage. The undercarriage is wheeled and completely retractable to preserve aerodynamic efficiency.

As its core, the Cloud Shadow represents a Chinese attempt at a budget-friendly High-Altitude, Long Endurance (HALE) unmanned aircraft that is weapons capable. Two distinct versions have been mentioned - the standard unarmed reconnaissance model and an armed reconnaissance model. Weapons are held externally along four underwing hardpoints (two to a wing). Munitions supported will include a variety of Chinese precision weapons including both missiles and drop bombs. The listed mission payload is 880 lb.

Performance specifications include a maximum speed of 385 miles per hour, a service ceiling of at least 46,000 feet and a Line-of-Sight (LoS) link range out to 180 miles. The aircraft's mission endurance window is set for six hours. The jet engine is most likely the WJ-600 series or similar.

There are three planned production forms for the Cloud Shadow UAV family. The Cloud Shadow CS-1 is the base imagery reconnaissance model and this is to be followed by the CS-2 which fulfills the electronic reconnaissance role. The CS-3 is set to be a fully-armed reconnaissance strike model. All will carry the WP-11C series turbojet engine for propulsion.

November 2017 - A mock-up of the Cloud Shadow UAV was put on display during the Dubai Air Show.©MilitaryFactory.com

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Specifications

Service Year

2019

Origin

China

Status

IN-DEVELOPMENT
Program in Progress.

Crew

0
UNMANNED

Production

10
UNITS

Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) - China

(View other Aviaton-Related Manufacturers)

China (possible)

(OPERATORS list includes past, present, and future operators when applicable)

✓ Ground Attack (Bombing, Strafing)
Ability to conduct aerial bombing of ground targets by way of (but not limited to) guns, bombs, missiles, rockets, and the like.

✓ Close-Air Support (CAS)
Developed to operate in close proximity to active ground elements by way of a broad array of air-to-ground ordnance and munitions options.

✓ Intelligence-Surveillance-Reconnaissance (ISR), Scout
Surveil ground targets / target areas to assess environmental threat levels, enemy strength, or enemy movement.

✓ Unmanned Capability
Aircraft inherently designed (or later developed) with an unmanned capability to cover a variety of over-battlefield roles.

Empty Wgt

5,071 lb
(2,300 kg)

MTOW

7,055 lb
(3,200 kg)

Wgt Diff

+1,984 lb
(+900 kg)

(Showcased structural values pertain to the base AVIC Cloud Shadow production variant)

Installed: Estimated: 1 x WP-11C turbojet engine of unknown rating / output.

Max Speed

385 mph
(620 kph | 335 kts)

Ceiling

49,213 ft
(15,000 m | 9 mi)

Range

180 mi
(290 km | 537 nm)

♦ MACH Regime (Sonic)

Sub

Trans

Super

Hyper

HiHyper

ReEntry

♦

(Showcased performance specifications pertain to the base AVIC Cloud Shadow production variant. Performance specifications showcased above are subject to environmental factors as well as aircraft configuration. Estimates are made when Real Data not available. Compare this aircraft entry against any other in our database or View aircraft by powerplant type)

OPTIONAL:
Air-to-surface, precision-guided missiles and drop bombs including Blue Arrow-7, YJ-9E and AG-300M series.

Supported Types

Graphical image of an aircraft conventional drop bomb munition

Graphical image of an aircraft guided bomb munition

(Not all ordnance types may be represented in the showcase above)

Hardpoint Mountings: 4

Cloud Shadow - Base Series Name

Cloud Shadow CS-1 - Imagery reconnaissance model

Cloud Shadow CS-2 - Electronic reconnaissance model

Cloud Shadow CS-3 - Reconnaissance strike model

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