Guizhou (AVIC) WZ-2000 (WuZhen-2000 / WZ-9)

History

The unmanned unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) of today will naturally become the armed unmanned aerial vehicle (UCAV) of tomorrow. The Chinese Guizhou conglomerate has developed the latter, with its WZ-2000 turbofan-powered UCAV model intended as a dedicated high-speed attack drone with built-in surveillance capabilities.

Development of the aircraft began in 1999, followed by turn-of-the-century replicas, culminating in production in 2002. The WZ-2000 adds a whole new dimension to China's air attack capability, which currently exists only in world-class air forces.

Furthermore, if China offers its UCAVs to numerous military customers, thereby reducing its reliance on countries such as the United States and Israel, it threatens the export market for UCAVs that are currently controlled by a few.

The WZ-2000 has been referred to as "WZ-9" and "WuZhen-2000" several times during its long development process. "WZ-2000" is generally accepted as the final product name. The first flight of the prototype was recorded on December 26, 2003.

The WZ-2000 has a barrel length of 7.5 meters and a wingspan of 9.8 meters. The listed maximum takeoff weight (MTOW) is 3,750 pounds, while the payload capacity for storage and mission equipment is 175 pounds.

Power comes from a single WS-11 turbofan engine (primarily Russia's Ivchenko AI-25 series), which produces thrust in the 3,800-pound range and propels the airframe at nearly 500 mph. The stated range is 1,500 miles and the combat radius is about 500 miles.

Operating ceilings can reach 59,000 feet, while mission duration is limited to three hours, largely due to thirsty turbofan engines. The aircraft is believed to be operated by two ground control station (GCS) operators.

As a UCAV, the WZ-2000 supports the transport of air-to-surface missiles and precision-guided munitions to meet mission requirements.

Specification

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