Wing Loong II
Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group · China · also known as Yilong II, GJ-2
The Wing Loong II is a medium-altitude, long-endurance (MALE) armed unmanned aircraft developed by the Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group of China, first flown on 27 February 2017. It is a larger, more heavily armed successor to the original Wing Loong and has become one of China's most widely exported military drones.
Overview
Wing Loong II was unveiled as a mock-up at Airshow China in Zhuhai in November 2016 before making its first flight in February 2017. The People's Liberation Army Air Force operates a version of the aircraft under the designation GJ-2, which entered service in 2018. Development built on the earlier, smaller Wing Loong, first flown in 2009, scaling up the airframe and adding more weapons stations to broaden its strike role.
Design and capabilities
The aircraft has a length of about 11 m and a wingspan of roughly 20.5 m, with a maximum take-off weight near 4,200 kg and a payload capacity of about 480 kg. A turboprop engine driving a pusher propeller gives it an endurance of up to 32 hours, a maximum speed of about 370 km/h and a service ceiling of roughly 9,900 m. Compared with the original Wing Loong, the Mark II variant carries six weapons hardpoints rather than two, allowing it to be configured for a mix of reconnaissance sensors and precision-guided munitions on the same airframe.
Operational history
Following its 2017 first flight and 2018 entry into Chinese air force service, Wing Loong II has been exported to a number of countries, with the United Arab Emirates reported as its launch export customer. Confirmed or reported operators include China, Pakistan, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Morocco, Algeria and Nigeria. Pakistan and China have also discussed joint production arrangements for the type. As with other Chinese military-export platforms, detailed operational and programme data is less extensively published than for many Western equivalents.
Frequently asked questions
What is the range of the Wing Loong II?
Manufacturer and press figures for its data-link and satellite-relayed control range vary and are not consistently reported, so no single ferry-range figure is given here.
How long can the Wing Loong II stay airborne?
Sources put its endurance at up to 32 hours, depending on payload and mission profile.
Who makes the Wing Loong II?
It is built by the Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group, part of China's Aviation Industry Corporation (AVIC).
Which countries operate the Wing Loong II?
Reported operators include China, Pakistan, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Morocco, Algeria and Nigeria.
What is the payload capacity of the Wing Loong II?
The aircraft has a maximum take-off weight of about 4,200 kg and can carry roughly 480 kg of payload across six hardpoints.
When did the Wing Loong II first fly?
It first flew on 27 February 2017 and entered Chinese air force service, as the GJ-2, in 2018.
