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 mission.

Design and development

The Cloud Shadow, designed and constructed by Chengdu Aircraft Corporation for service with the People's Liberation Army Air Force, was originally debuted at Zhuhai Air Show in 2016. 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 3,200kg and a payload capacity of 400kg, the drone can be equipped with 50 kg CS/BBM3 (YL-12) GPS guided bomb, Blue Arrow air-to-surface missile, 100kg GB-4 precision-guided bomb, and light cruise missiles.[1][2]

Specifications

AVIC Cloud Shadow showing weapons

Data from Military Factory[3]

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 (385 mph; 335 kn)
  • Endurance: 6-10 hours
  • Service ceiling: 15,000 m (49,000 ft)

See also

Related development

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

Related lists

References

  1. 1 2 "Cloud Shadow Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)". Airforce Technology. Airforce Technology.
  2. ↑ "China's Cloud Shadow – Flexible but Short Endurance". uasvision. uasvision.
  3. ↑ "AVIC Cloud Shadow". Military Factory. Military Factory.
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