The Guizhou WZ-7 Soaring Dragon (Chinese : 无侦-7 翔龙 ; pinyin : Wú zhēn-qī Xiáng Lóng ) is a high-altitude long endurance unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) from the People's Republic of China.[1] [3] The aircraft features a unique joined-wing design.[3]
The primary mission is expected to be aerial reconnaissance , but it may also be fitted to provide targeting data for anti-ship ballistic missiles and cruise missiles .[4]
Development
The WZ-7 was designed by the Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group and constructed by the Guizhou Aircraft Industry Corporation . A model appeared at the 2006 China International Aviation & Aerospace Exhibition .[5] The first flight has not occurred as of 2011. The drone conducted radar cross-section testing.[5] The WZ-7 entered serial production in 2015 to 2016.[2] A complete redesign of WZ-7 was observed in 2020 with the Chinese Air Force roundel. The redesign featured V-tails, a different engine nozzle with the WS-13 turbofan engine, and changes to the ventral fin and the sail structure.[6] The WZ-7 UAV was officially unveiled by the military at the Zhuhai Airshow in 2021.[3] [7] It was displayed again in 2022.[8]
Design
Larger than most UAVs, the WZ-7 features a tandem, joined-wing design, which allows for a more rigid, less flexible wing than other configurations, with benefits said to include an increased lift-to-drag ratio and less complex flight controls than a HALE UAV with a conventional wing.[9] [5] [4] The air intake for the engine is mounted atop the fuselage, with the engine itself mounted in the rear of the aircraft.[5] The prototype aircraft is powered by a Guizhou WP-13 turbojet engine, a copy of the Soviet Tumansky R-13 ; it is anticipated that an improved engine will be installed in production aircraft.[5] [10]
The operational WZ-7 has a significantly modified shape. The single vertical tail on the prototype was changed to a pair of canted tails.[11] A turbofan engine was installed on the production model.[6] Due to the different engine and aerodynamics, the endurance of the production model is unknown. It is speculated to be longer than the 10 hours advertised for the prototype.[11]
Operational history
The WZ-7 entered service with the People's Liberation Army Air Force in 2018[1] and a number were deployed to the Tibet Autonomous Region , Hainan Island , and Yishuntun Airbase near North Korea.[12]
On 24 July 2019, a WZ-7 shadowed the American Ticonderoga -class cruiser USS Antietam as she transited the Taiwan Strait .[13]
On 15 December 2022, it was reported that China has allegedly deployed WZ-7 UAVs near Indian border in Tibet.[14]
On March 26 2024, a China People’s Liberation Army (PLA) WZ-7 high-altitude long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) undertook flight maneuvers over the Sea of Japan. [15]
Operators
People's Republic of China
Specifications (Soaring Dragon prototype)
Artist's impression of the WZ-7 prototype
Data from AirForces Monthly[5]
General characteristics
Crew: None
Length: 14.33 m (47 ft 0 in)
Wingspan: 24.86 m (81 ft 7 in)
Height: 5.41 m (17 ft 9 in)
Powerplant: 1 × Guizhou WP-13 turbojet or unknown type of turbofan, 43.1 kN (9,700 lbf) thrust
Performance
Cruise speed: 750 km/h (466 mph, 405 kn)
Range: 7,000 km (4,300 mi, 3,800 nmi)
Combat range: 2,000 km (1,200 mi, 1,100 nmi)
Endurance: 10 hours (at maximum speed; with turbojet)
Service ceiling: 18,000 m (59,000 ft)
Thrust/weight : 5.8
See also
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
Related lists
References
^ a b c d Rupprecht, Andreas; Dominguez, Gabriel (11 November 2021). "Chinese air force equips 16th Air Division with WZ-7 HALE UAVs" . Janes . Retrieved 18 August 2022 .
^ a b Rupprecht, Andreas (2018). Modern Chinese Warplanes:Chinese Air Force - Aircraft and Units . Harpia Publishing. p. 106. ISBN 978-09973092-6-3 .
^ a b c Waldron, Greg (29 September 2021). "Zhuhai UAV bazaar returns with a vengeance" . FlightGlobal . Gale General OneFile. Retrieved 18 August 2022 .
^ a b Newdick, Thomas, ed. (September 2011). "World News: China's Soar Eagle UAV revealed". Combat Aircraft . 12 (9). Hersham, Surrey, UK: Ian Allan Publishing : 30. ISSN 2041-7489 .
^ a b c d e f Parsons, Gary, ed. (September 2011). "News Headlines: Has China Unveiled Its Soar Dragon?". AirForces Monthly . No. 282. London: Key Publishing. pp. 4–5.
^ a b "Xianglong WZ-7 drone commissioned to guide carrier-killer missiles" . China Arms . 18 December 2020.
^ "New largest Chinese-made HALE combat drone WZ-7 Soar Dragon enters into service" . armyrecognition . 11 November 2021.
^ Trevithick, Joseph (7 November 2022). "All The Air Combat Developments Out Of China's Massive Air Show" . The Drive .
^ Yeo, Mike (30 September 2021). "Chinese airshow offers glimpse at military's new drones" . Defense News .
^ "Chinese UAV WZ-7 Soar Dragon conducts live combat training" . airrecognition . 16 February 2022.
^ a b Newdick, Thomas (3 January 2023). "Japanese Fighters Intercept China's High-Flying WZ-7 Drone For First Time" . The Drive .
^ "Soar Dragon UAVs Deploy to Yishuntun Airbase" . Offiziere.ch . Bellingcat . 23 March 2018. Retrieved 2019-09-15 .
^ Axe, David (29 July 2019). "China's Giant Spy Drone Just Tailed a U.S. Navy Cruiser" . The National Interest . Retrieved 2019-09-15 .
^ "China deploys Guizhou WZ-7 Soaring Dragon HALE drones at Shigatse Airport in Tibet near the border with India" . 2022-12-15.
^ "China's WZ-7 Soaring Dragon 'Caught Snooping' Over Sea Of Japan; Has Been Used To Spy On Taiwan & India" . 2024-03-26.
^ The International Institute for Strategic Studies (15 February 2023). "6 Asia". The Military Balance 2023 . London: Routledge. doi :10.4324/9781003400226 . ISBN 9781003400226 . S2CID 256916955 .
^ Rupprecht, Andreas (2018). Modern Chinese Warplane: Chinese Naval Aviation - Aircraft and Units . Harpia Publishing. p. 36. ISBN 978-09973092-5-6 .
Wú zhēn "WZ" (reconnaissance UAV)
Gōngjí "GJ" (attack UAV)
1 Unknown/not assigned