Chinese MALE, HALE (and rotary, small, suicide) UAV/UCAV thread

[by78]

Not a low end drone and I already posted in the high end thread.

WZ-7 is a HALE drone, so this is the appropriate thread, that and the other thread is for Loyal Wingman types.

EDIT: I see, someone had moved your post in the High End thread to here while I was writing this reply.

 

[tankphobia]

I have seen those fire extinguisher bombs a few times in different UAV configurations, are they genuinely for fire fighting purposes or are they just a sorta wink towards possible offensive payloads.

 

[by78]

I have seen those fire extinguisher bombs a few times in different UAV configurations, are they genuinely for fire fighting purposes or are they just a sorta wink towards possible offensive payloads.

The firefighting bombs are definitely a real thing. Also, there's no need to hint at offensive payloads because the drone is being openly advertised as capable of carrying destructive payloads ranging from mortar shells to satellite guided bombs.

 

[tankphobia]

The firefighting bombs are definitely a real thing. Also, there's no need to hint at offensive payloads because the drone is being openly advertised as capable of carrying destructive payloads ranging from mortar shells to satellite guided bombs.

I think because currently only China is really pursuing using these kinds of fire fighting bombs which leads to limited information on the English internet. It could also be a military company dressing its product up to advertise for the civilian market.

 

[by78]

Newly released old images of Wingloong-2 from the last Zhuhai Airshow.

 

[Sinnavuuty]

It seems that the claim of a Chinese version of Shahed-136 is emerging more information:

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The ZT-180 website link is this:

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ZT-180 Loitering Munition Drone（Suicide Drone）

Overview:
The ZT-180 drone adopts delta wing layout to effectively improve the cruising speed and reduce the size of UAV. The wing-body fusion design reduces the resistance of the whole aircraft, and realizes the compact structure for carrying easily; The design scheme of wing + fuselage with 3 fuel tanks is adopted to effectively increase the tank volume of UAV, reduce the cross-sectional area of fuselage, thus reduce the flight resistance of UAV and increase the flight duration. Adopt tail-push power arrangement to improve propeller efficiency.

ZT-180 DroneFeatures:
low cost
Small volume, rapid deployment
Quick retrofit and replacement load
Compact structure design, easy to carry.

ZT-180 Drone Specification:
Length: 2.8 meters
Wing length: 2.6m
Flying speed: 43m/s
Endurance: 10 hours
Effective range: 1800 km
Payload: 34kg
Maximum take-off weight: 170kg
Take-off mode: catapult-assisted take-off

 

[by78]

A medal awarded to a certain PLAN UAV unit for its performance in the Zhiying 2020 all-military UAV competition.

 

[Maikeru]

Article on new naval WZ7H

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[by78]

A new weather modification variant of TB-001 was recently deployed to seed rain in Guizhou.

 

[tamsen_ikard]

How many drones does PLA have in its arsenal? Do they have like drone brigades? Similar to fighter brigades?

PLA currently has more than 2500 combat capable planes. What is the number for high end drones that are not tiny suicide or dji like drones. Let's say similar to wing loong or other large drones.


Also how many are they adding each year, so that we can get a sense of how much the arsenal is expected to grow in the future