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The Guizhou WZ-7 Soaring Dragon (Chinese: 无侦-7 翔龙) is a high-altitude long endurance unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) from the People's Republic of China.[1][4] The design uses a "unique" joined-wing design.[4]

WZ-7 Soaring Dragon
Earliest prototype of WZ-7 without the joined wing and v-shaped tail.
Role	Unmanned maritime surveillance and patrol aircraft Type of 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	16[2][3]

The WZ-7 has a similar role and mission to the Northrop Grumman RQ-4 Global Hawk operated by the United States Air Force.[5] 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.[5]

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.[6] In 2011, it had not yet flown and radar cross-section and other electromagnetic tests were ongoing.[6] The UAV was officially unveiled at the 2021 exhibition.[4]

The WZ-7 entered serial production in 2015 to 2016.[2]

Design

Large by the standards of UAVs, the WZ-7's tandem, joined-wing design 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 would require.[7][6][5] The aircraft is powered by a Guizhou WP-13 turbojet engine, a copy of the Soviet Tumansky R-13; it is anticipated that a newer, improved engine, will be installed in production aircraft.[6] The air intake for the engine is mounted atop the fuselage, with the engine itself mounted in the rear of the aircraft.[6]

Operational history

The WZ-7 entered service with the People's Liberation Army Air Force in 2018[1] and were spotted deployed to the Tibet Autonomous Region, Hainan Island and Yishuntun Airbase near North Korea.[8]

On 24 July 2019, a WZ-7 shadowed the American Ticonderoga-class cruiser USS Antietam which was transiting the Taiwan Strait.[9]

Operators

 People's Republic of China

• People's Liberation Army Air Force: 8 units[2]
• People's Liberation Army Naval Air Force: 8 units[3]

Specifications

Data from AirForces Monthly[6]

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, 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
• Service ceiling: 18,000 m (59,000 ft)
• Thrust/weight: 5.8

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

• BAE Systems Mantis
• Northrop Grumman RQ-4 Global Hawk

Related lists

• List of unmanned aerial vehicles of China
• List of active People's Liberation Army aircraft

References

На других языках

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- [en] WZ-7

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[it] Guizhou Soar Dragon

Il Soar Dragon è un UAV di tipo HALE (High-Altitude Long Endurance) sviluppato in Cina per missioni di ricognizione.

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[ru] Chengdu Xianglong

Chengdu Xianglong (кит. 翔龙, «Сянлун» или «Парящий дракон») — китайский стратегический разведывательный БПЛА, конструктивно повторяет американский БПЛА RQ-4 Global Hawk. Разработан Авиационной промышленной корпорацией города Чэнду (Chengdu Aircraft Industry Corporation).

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