Engineering:AVIC Cloud Shadow
| Cloud Shadow | |
|---|---|
| |
| AVIC Cloud Shadow UAV on Dubai Air Show 2017 | |
| Role | HALE unmanned aerial vehicle |
| National origin | People's Republic of China |
| Manufacturer | Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group |
| Designer | Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group |
| Introduction | 2016 |
| Status | In development[1] |
| Primary user | People's Liberation Army Air Force |
The Cloud Shadow, (Chinese: 云影; pinyin: Yún yǐng) is an unmanned aerial vehicle 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.
Design and development
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 attaching point. With has a take-off weight of 3,200 kg 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.[1][2]
Operators
People's Republic of China
- People's Liberation Army Air Force : 12 units[3]
Specifications
Data from Military Factory[4]
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 turbojet
Performance
- Cruise speed: 620 km/h (390 mph, 330 kn)
- Endurance: 6 hours[5]
- Service ceiling: 15,000 m (49,000 ft)
See also
Related development
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era
- BAE Systems Mantis
- Chengdu Sky Wing
- General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper
Related lists
- List of military aircraft of the PRC
- List of unmanned aerial vehicles of the People's Republic of China
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Cloud Shadow Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)". Airforce Technology. Airforce Technology. https://www.airforce-technology.com/projects/cloud-shadow-unmanned-aerial-vehicle-uav/.
- ↑ "China’s Cloud Shadow – Flexible but Short Endurance". uasvision. uasvision. https://www.uasvision.com/2017/11/24/chinas-cloud-shadow-flexible-but-short-endurance/.
- ↑ 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. https://www.militaryfactory.com/aircraft/detail.asp?aircraft_id=1673.
- ↑ http://www.eastpendulum.com/la-courtes-pattes-attitude-du-drone-cloud-shadow-se-confirme
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