WZ-7 Soaring Dragon | |
---|---|
WZ-7 at Airshow China Zhuhai 2022 | |
Role | Unmanned maritime surveillance and patrol aircraft |
National origin | People's Republic of China |
Manufacturer | Guizhou Aircraft Industry Corporation |
Designer | Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group |
Introduction | 2018 [1] |
Status | In production [1] |
Primary users |
People's Liberation Army Air Force People's Liberation Army Navy |
Produced | 2015/2016 - ? [2] |
Number built | 20 |
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]
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]
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]
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]
Data from AirForces Monthly [5]
General characteristics
Performance
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
Related lists
WZ-7 Soaring Dragon | |
---|---|
WZ-7 at Airshow China Zhuhai 2022 | |
Role | Unmanned maritime surveillance and patrol aircraft |
National origin | People's Republic of China |
Manufacturer | Guizhou Aircraft Industry Corporation |
Designer | Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group |
Introduction | 2018 [1] |
Status | In production [1] |
Primary users |
People's Liberation Army Air Force People's Liberation Army Navy |
Produced | 2015/2016 - ? [2] |
Number built | 20 |
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]
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]
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]
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]
Data from AirForces Monthly [5]
General characteristics
Performance
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
Related lists