CAIG Wing Loong II
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The Chengdu GJ-2, also known as Wing Loong 2, is an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) capable of
remotely controlled Teleoperation (or remote operation) indicates operation of a system or machine at a distance. It is similar in meaning to the phrase "remote control" but is usually encountered in research, academia and technology. It is most commonly associa ...
or autonomous flight developed by the Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group in the People's Republic of China. Intended for use as a surveillance and aerial reconnaissance and
precision strike The Precision Attack Air-to-Surface Missile (PAASM) is a weapon system currently under development by Raytheon. It is designed to defeat armored vehicles, buildings, hardened bunkers and small naval targets. The missile uses technology developed for ...
platform, Chengdu unveiled the concept of Wing Loong II at the Aviation Expo China in Beijing in September 2015. Wing Loong II has long range strike capability with a satellite link.


Development

The prototype of the Wing Loong II was presented for the first time to the public during the Airshow China exhibition, held in Zhuhai from 1–6 November 2016.


Design

The Wing Loong II UAV MALE is an enlarged version of the Wing Loong I with a longer body and wider wing span. It has a slender fuselage, V-tail, and ventral fin. The aircraft features retractable landing gear, including two main wheels under the fuselage and one single wheel under the nose. Each wing has three
hardpoint A hardpoint is an attachment location on a structural frame designed to transfer force and carry an external or internal load. The term is usually used to refer to the mounting points (more formally known as a weapon station or station) on the ...
s under the wings with the capability of carrying bombs, rockets, or air-to-surface missiles. A satellite communications antenna is situated on the top front surface of the fuselage, offering long range data transmission between the UAV and the ground station.


Comparison


Variants

;GJ-2: Chinese military version of Wing Loong II. Distinguished by the lack of winglets. Officially entered service with the PLAAF in November 2018. ;Wing Loong II: An upgraded variant of the Wing Loong-1, with provisions for up to twelve air-to-surface missiles. ;Wing Loong 2H: Civilian, communication, emergency response variant, equipped with synthetic aperture radar and optoelectronic pod which is able to relay and amplify telecommunication signals. The Wing Loong 2H debuted in July 2021 when it was deployed to assist with rescue work in Central China's Henan Province after unprecedented heavy rainfall flooding, providing a stable communication signal that can be directly used by normal phones with areas of over 50 square kilometers. ;Wing Loong 2D ;Wing Loong 2Y ; Wing Loong 3: Enlarged Wing Loong 2 with longer range and endurance hours. It's the first model in the Wing Loong series that is capable of deploying air-to-air missiles and reach intercontinental range. The drone was fitted with the PL-10E infrared missile, a sonobuoy launcher, and miniature UAV under its wings at the airshow display.


Operational history

The Wing Loong II is used by the UAE to perform airstrikes against the Government of National Accord in the Libyan civil war. The GNA received 12
Bayraktar TB2 The Bayraktar TB2 is a medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) capable of remotely controlled or autonomous flight operations. It is manufactured by the Turkish company Baykar Makina Sanayi ve Ticaret A.Ş ...
s in two batches between May and July. At least half of them have been destroyed during LNA airstrikes using Wing Loong IIs; the second batch delivered in July was to replace the losses of the first. As of June 2020, a total of 6 Wing Loong IIs have been reported shot down or lost in Libya, all operated by the LNA. One was allegedly shot down by a laser: if this was true then it was the first time in history that a laser weapon shot down a combat vehicle. An investigation led by BBC Africa Eye and BBC Arabic Documentaries revealed that the UAE used Wing Loong II drones to fire Chinese Blue Arrow 7 missiles at a military academy in Libya's capital, Tripoli, in January 2020, killing 26 unarmed cadets. The drone was operated from Libya's Al-Khadim air base which has been under the control of the UAE. During the
2021 Henan floods China's Henan Province experienced flooding between 17 and 31 July 2021 as a result of heavy rainfall. On July 20, Zhengzhou, the provincial capital, recorded of rainfall within an hour, the highest ever figure recorded since measurements bega ...
, because of the interruption of communication in some areas due to flooding, the Ministry of Emergency Management dispatched its emergency disaster-response Chengdu Wing Loong II (Wing Loong 2H) to the corresponding areas, and carried out nearly 6 hours of ground reconnaissance and communication relay services.


Operators

* — In service with the People's Liberation Army Air Force since 2018, as GJ-2. * — In service with the Royal Saudi Air Force. Used during the
Yemeni Civil War Yemeni Civil War may refer to several historical events which have taken place in Yemen: *Alwaziri coup, February – March 1948 *Yemeni–Adenese clan violence, 1956–60 *North Yemen Civil War, 1962–70 *Aden Emergency, 1963–67 *South Yemen#Di ...
against Houthi militias. * — In service with the
Libyan Air Force The Libyan Air Force ( ar, القوات الجوية الليبية) is the branch of the Libyan Armed Forces responsible for aerial warfare. In 2010, before the Libyan Civil War, the Libyan Air Force personnel strength was estimated at 18,000 ...
that supported the Haftar's forces during the Second Libyan Civil War. Supplied by the UAE. * — Used in Boko Haram insurgency. * — In October 2018, it was announced that Pakistan Aeronautical Complex and Chengdu Aircraft Corporation would jointly produce 48 Wing Loong II UAVs for use by the Pakistan Air Force. * — Launch customer for Wing Loong II in 2017. * — 24 units on order for the Algerian Air Force; they should be fully operational by 2022.


Specifications


See also


References

{{Chinese Military Aircraft Medium-altitude long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicles Unmanned aerial vehicles of China V-tail aircraft Pterodactyl II Single-engined pusher aircraft Aircraft first flown in 2017