Chengdu (AVIC) Wing-Loong (Pterodactyl)

Chengdu History (AVIC) Wing Lung (Wing Loong)

Chengdu Wing Loong I (also known as Wing Loong I) was unveiled by company officials during the 2010 China International Aerospace Exhibition (Zhuhai). The system is a Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) designed to convert the type into an Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle (UCAV) by supporting various precision munitions options. The first flight is believed to have taken place in 2009, and flight testing will continue into 2013.

At least one prototype was lost during development.

The Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group (CAC) has decades of modern Chinese aviation history, starting as a Soviet jet maker during the Cold War, when the two Asian countries were close to power. Since then, the company has grown into the design, development and manufacture of domestic products primarily for use by the Chinese military and its allies (the latter only if export is permitted).

Pterodactyl UAV is one such product approved for export, and Pakistan has so far assessed its MALE UAV requirements (though no option).

Externally, the Pterodactyl looks no different from the U.S. Predator series of drones, including a bulbous box, a streamlined fuselage, wheeled landing gear, and an outwardly curved vertical tail.

The main wing assembly is also a straight appendage that can accommodate underwing storage (the system is expected to use up to four underwing guided bombs or missiles). The bubble held under the nose contains a lateral optic.

The landing gear is wheeled for easy operation of the system by ground crews, and the vehicle body can be fully retracted in flight - all legs are retracted aft to facilitate strong aerodynamics. Propulsion is provided by a rear-mounted conventional engine that drives a three-bladed propeller assembly in a "propeller" configuration.

Internally, Pterodactyl is tested with various equipment packages. The plane is believed to be carrying a synthetic aperture radar system as well as forward-looking infrared (FLIR). For a production-quality model, expect the total payload listed for the Wing Loong series to be around 220 pounds.

Specs listed include a top speed of 175 mph, an operating range of 2,500 miles (reported mission duration is 20 hours), and an operating service ceiling of 16,400 feet.

The Wing-Loong II is an improved upgrade with greater ammunition carrying support - up to 12 air-to-surface missiles are carried on hadpoints under the wings. It weighs 9,300 pounds and has a wingspan of 36 feet.

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