Chinese UAV/UCAV development

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planeman

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Re: New Chinese UAV

That video is very clearly of this design.

UAV_Skywing3.jpg

Note that the rear engine fairing is missing. Presumably the long fairing is to reduce IR signiture.

Although the layout is very similar to the Global Hawk t is not a clone, there are numerous material differences to the design.

Something that is significant is that it has a satalite upling dish type 'canopy' (the white bit on the nose).

There are now at least two 'current generation' large UAV types that have made it off the drawing board and at least to prototype stage, this being the second.
 

Baibar of Jalat

Junior Member
Re: New Chinese UAV

Do some people in China hide in bushes in attempt to picture/video latest military equipment?

Seriously, this means UAV is fully or near operational because why would the military do tests of a plane in civilian areas.
 

AssassinsMace

Lieutenant General
Re: New Chinese UAV

Why hide in bushes when you can pick anyone of those buildings in the background to take pictures. Whether or not they are part of the testing facilities, someone with better info may want to clarify this, but I believe some of these facilities are notoriously located near public buildings. I remember seeing a pic of civilians sitting on top of trucks overlooking the wall of one of these facilities. I believe crobato mentioned in another thread that a planned 7-star resort on the island of Hainan will overlook China's nuke sub base. Not to also mention that Bejing wants to turn Hainan into an international island resort when they're also building their future main space launch base.
 

planeman

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Re: New Chinese UAV

yeah a taxi test like that implies it hasn't flown yet. Strangely similar to EADS 'Barracuda" UCAV demonstrator which was photographed during taxi tests. Basically these things aren't as secret as we sometimes make out; a model of the damn thing has been shown at airshows as per my post above.

My question is whether this is the real WZ-2000?
 

tphuang

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this is kind of interesting, update by huitong on this.
In addition, CAC is also developing a similar but probably more capable stealth UAV. A prototype had been built by April 2008. High speed taxxing took place in September 2008. Its designation may be called Sky Wing.
clearly, this is not WZ-2000, since that one is developed by guizhou, not CAC.

And if you look at the video, it clearly looks like the picture that planeman posted rather than WZ-2000. Clearly differences in the tailfin angles, the engine intake and exhaust nozzle.

Actually I think WZ-9 (aka WZ-2000) is already in service if you read this section by Huitong
It was reported that WZ-9 entered limited service with PLA Department of Chief Staff in 2007 and conducts only strategic reconnaissance missions
I saw that article a few months ago and thought they were talking about JL-9, but then it didn't make sense for PLA Department of Chief Staff to visit a PLAAF product. The only other product that's important and new from Guizhou is WZ-2000. Also, it seems like a CAC product would be more advanced and serve PLAAF's requirements.
 
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RedMercury

Junior Member
Re: New Chinese UAV

So to pile on the speculation, the video of the WZ-2000 taxiing is released now because something happened with this CAC project?
 

tphuang

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So to pile on the speculation, the video of the WZ-2000 taxiing is released now because something happened with this CAC project?

that video is CAC project, not WZ-2000.
 

alopes

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Re: New Chinese UAV

More talking about CAC new UAV.

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China is reported to be developing a new UAV that's similar to the U.S.' RQ-4 Global Hawk. The Chinese aircraft is the Xianglong (Soaring Dragon) and is about half the size of the Global Hawk. The Xianglong weighs 7.5 tons and has a 45 foot wingspan as well as a .65 ton payload. The craft's maximum altitude will be 57,000 feet and it's range will be 7,000 kilometers with a faster cruising speed than the RQ-4.

The Chinese Xianglong is intended for maritime patrol, as is a U.S. Navy model of the RQ-4. The Xianglong recently conducted taxi-tests, which was the first time the UAV was shown to the public. The shorter range of this UAV is apparently attributable to the lower capabilities of the Chinese aircraft engine industry. Flight testing will begin next year, and the Xianglong may enter limited service in 2-3 years. The U.S. Air Force is currently buying the B version of the RQ-4 Global Hawk UAVs, at a cost of $58 million each. This version is larger than the A model, with a wingspan that's 15 feet larger at 131 feet, and the UAV is four feet longer at 48 feet. Plus, the B model can carry an additional two tons of equipment. To support the increased weight, there's a new generator that produces 150 percent more electrical power. The RQ-4 has a range of more than 22,000 kilometers and a cruising speed of 650 kilometers an hour. The image was captured from a video broadcast on the Chinese Internet.
 
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