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| ==Variants== | ==Variants== | ||
| ;Sky Wing III ({{zh|s=天翼III|p=Tiānyì-3}}): |
;Sky Wing III ({{zh|s=天翼III|p=Tiānyì-3}}): An early prototype of Wing Loong-10. High-speed, high-altitude, tactical unmanned aerial vehicle. Unveiled on the 47th ] in 2007.<ref name="ty3" /> | ||
| ;Wind Shadow ({{zh|s=风影|p=Fēng yǐng}}): |
;Wind Shadow ({{zh|s=风影|p=Fēng yǐng}}): A Chinese domestic military version prototype designation for Wing Loong-10. tealth featured, twin-engine, ] powered, high-speed, high-altitude, long endurance unmanned aerial vehicle. Unveiled in 2014.<ref name="fengying" /> | ||
| ;Cloud Shadow ({{zh|s=云影|p=Yún yǐng}}): |
;Cloud Shadow ({{zh|s=云影|p=Yún yǐng}}): An export version prototype designation for Wing Loong-10. Stealth featured, single-engine (optional twin-engine), ] powered, high-speed, high-altitude, medium endurance unmanned aerial vehicle. Unveiled in 2016.<ref name="yunying" /> | ||
| ==== Wing Loong-10 ==== | |||
| : Mass produced version for both export and domestic use, first debuted on August 2, 2020 for a typhoon detection test flight, while the formal designation for Chinese military forces is still unknown .<ref>{{Cite web|title=Wing Loong-10 drone makes typhoon detection debut - Global Times|url=https://www.globaltimes.cn/content/1196687.shtml|access-date=2021-07-23|website=www.globaltimes.cn}}</ref> | |||
| ==Operators== | ==Operators== | ||
| ;{{PRC}} |
;{{PRC}} | ||
| *]: 12 units<ref name="Harpia">{{cite book |last1=Rupprecht |first1=Andreas |title=Modern Chinese Warplanes:Chinese Air Force - Aircraft and Units |publisher=Harpia Publishing |isbn=978-09973092-6-3 |page=106}}</ref> | *]: 12 units<ref name="Harpia">{{cite book |last1=Rupprecht |first1=Andreas |title=Modern Chinese Warplanes:Chinese Air Force - Aircraft and Units |publisher=Harpia Publishing |isbn=978-09973092-6-3 |page=106}}</ref> | ||
| *] | *] | ||
Revision as of 16:24, 23 July 2021
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| Cloud Shadow / Wind Shadow | |
|---|---|
| |
| AVIC Cloud Shadow UAV on Dubai Air Show 2017 | |
| Role | HALE unmanned aerial vehicleType of aircraft |
| National origin | People's Republic of China |
| Manufacturer | Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group |
| Designer | Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group |
| First flight | 2014 |
| Introduction | 2016 |
| Status | In service |
| Primary user | People's Liberation Army Air Force |
The Wind Shadow (Chinese: 风影; pinyin: Fēng yǐng) and Cloud Shadow (Chinese: 云影; pinyin: Yún yǐng), also known as Wing Loong-10 (Chinese: 翼龙-10; pinyin: Yìlóng-10), is a series of unmanned aerial vehicles of the High-Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) type, featuring an stealthy air-frame. As of 2017 it is being developed by the Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group for reconnaissance and precision strike missions.
History
In 2007, Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group showcased Sky Wing III (Chinese: 天翼III; pinyin: Tiānyì-3) high-speed, high-altitude, tactical unmanned aerial vehicle on the 47th Paris International Aerospace Exhibition. The drone is externally similar to General Atomics Avenger, which was under testing at the time. According to the manufacturer, The drone has a 15 km celling and 750 km/h speed, and the endurance is 6 hours. In 2014, the Sky Wing III was renamed to Wind Shadow with a twin-engine, longer endurance design featuring stealth characteristic.
An export-orientated version called Cloud Shadow was unveiled at Zhuhai Air Show in 2016. The primary difference between Wind Shadow and Cloud Shadow is the engine. Wind Shadow features twin-engine, stealth nozzle, and is turbofan powered. However, Cloud Shadow features a single turbojet engine without any stealth concealment for the nozzle.
In 2018, China Meteorological Administration launched Haiyan Project, a meteorological observation experiment. Wind Shadow is used by the China Meteorological Administration to monitor typhoon movement. Military observers noted that Wind Shadow is also called Wing Loong-10, an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) product line manufactured by Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group, though Wing Loong series previously only had turboprop UAVs.
Design
According to globalsecurity, the Wind Shadow variant with two engines is designed for PLA domestic service while the single-engined Cloud Shadow is export oriented.
Cloud Shadow
The Cloud Shadow, designed and constructed by Chengdu Aircraft Corporation for service with the People's Liberation Army Air Force, debuted at the 2006 Zhuhai Air Show. The UAV's wings, fuselage and tail sections are built using composite materials. The bulbous nose assembly is well-streamlined and tapers to the rear to which an air scoop is set over the dorsal line. The scoop is straddled by outward-canted vertical fins. The radar cross section is designed to be reduced.
The UAV is offered in two variants, combat and ISR variant, stands for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance. The combat version comes with a range of weaponry to attack ground-based targets, on the other hand the ISR variant is provided with payloads to assist armed forces in missions such as reconnaissance, battlefield assessment, observation, and monitoring.
Each Cloud Shadow unmanned aircraft system includes three unmanned aerial vehicles, linked with one ground control station, and strike payloads. Cloud shadow UAV ground station by configuration can control three unmanned aerial vehicles to engage simultaneously, the usage of drones can be flexibly configured according to user needs. On manual mode of operation, the operator sends mission commands to the aircraft via the data link. On auto mode the drone will autonomously use the onboard autopilot system.
The UAV wing has six pilons. With a take-off weight of 3,200kg and a payload capacity of 400 kg, the drone can be equipped with 50 kg CS/BBM3 (YL-12) GPS guided bomb, Blue Arrow air-to-surface missile, 100 kg GB-4 precision-guided bomb, and light cruise missiles.
Cloud shadow drone is powered by a single WP-11C turbojet engine, or a single 1-ton class ZF850 engine, or optionally two AFE-50E turbofan engines.
Wind Shadow
Wind shadow features two WS-500 turbofan engines, and the engine nozzles are concealed inside the vehicle body with stealth features. In addition, a deceleration parachute is mounted in between the engine nozzles.
Variants
- Sky Wing III (Chinese: 天翼III; pinyin: Tiānyì-3)
- An early prototype of Wing Loong-10. High-speed, high-altitude, tactical unmanned aerial vehicle. Unveiled on the 47th Paris International Aerospace Exhibition in 2007.
- Wind Shadow (Chinese: 风影; pinyin: Fēng yǐng)
- A Chinese domestic military version prototype designation for Wing Loong-10. tealth featured, twin-engine, turbofan powered, high-speed, high-altitude, long endurance unmanned aerial vehicle. Unveiled in 2014.
- Cloud Shadow (Chinese: 云影; pinyin: Yún yǐng)
- An export version prototype designation for Wing Loong-10. Stealth featured, single-engine (optional twin-engine), turbojet powered, high-speed, high-altitude, medium endurance unmanned aerial vehicle. Unveiled in 2016.
Wing Loong-10
- Mass produced version for both export and domestic use, first debuted on August 2, 2020 for a typhoon detection test flight, while the formal designation for Chinese military forces is still unknown .
Operators
Specifications (Cloud Shadow)
Data from Military Factory
General characteristics
- Crew: None
- Length: 9 m (29 ft 6 in)
- Wingspan: 20 m (65 ft 7 in)
- Height: 3.66 m (12 ft 0 in)
- Empty weight: 2,300 kg (5,071 lb)
- Max takeoff weight: 3,200 kg (7,055 lb)
- Powerplant: 1 × WP-11C or ZF850 turbojet, 9.8 kN (2,200 lbf) thrust
- Powerplant: 2 × AEF-50E turbofan, 4.90 kN (1,102 lbf) thrust each
Performance
- Cruise speed: 620 km/h (390 mph, 330 kn)
- Endurance: 20 hours
- Service ceiling: 15,000 m (49,000 ft)
See also
Related development
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
Related lists
- List of military aircraft of the PRC
- List of unmanned aerial vehicles of the People's Republic of China
References
- ^ Wong, Kelvin (4 August 2020). "China reveals rare glimpse of Wind Shadow UAV". Janes.
- ^ "Cloud Shadow Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)". Airforce Technology. Airforce Technology.
- ^ "Tian-Yi 3 / Sky Wing III or Sky Wing 3 (SW-III or SW-3)". globalsecurity.
- "国产天翼3近程战术无人侦察机亮相(组图)". Sina News. 19 September 2007.
- ^ "Feng Ying (Wind Shadow) / Wing-Loong 10 / Pterosaur-10 - Lethal UAS". globalsecurity.
- ^ "Cloud-Shadow / Yun Ying". globalsecurity.
- https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/china/wing-loong-10.htm
- "China's Cloud Shadow – Flexible but Short Endurance". uasvision. uasvision.
- ^ "China Unveils Wing Loong-10 at Nanchang Airshow". USAVision. 4 November 2020.
- ^ "China Unveils Wing Loong- 10 Attack Drone". Defense World. 2 November 2020.
- ^ "La courtes-pattes attitude du drone « Cloud Shadow » se confirme". eastpendulum.
- "Wing Loong-10 drone makes typhoon detection debut - Global Times". www.globaltimes.cn. Retrieved 2021-07-23.
- Rupprecht, Andreas. Modern Chinese Warplanes:Chinese Air Force - Aircraft and Units. Harpia Publishing. p. 106. ISBN 978-09973092-6-3.
- "AVIC Cloud Shadow". Military Factory. Military Factory.
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