Chengdu Pterodactyl I (Wing Loong) - Medium-Altitude, Long-Endurance (MALE) UAV / UCAV, China

The Chengdu Pterodactyl I ((Chinese: 翼龙-1; pinyin: Yìlóng-1) also known as the Wing Loong was unveiled by company representatives during the China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition (Zhuhai) in 2010. The system is intended as a "Medium-Altitude, Long-Endurance" (MALE) Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) with provisions being developed to convert the type into an Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle (UCAV) form by implementation of various munition options.
The aircraft is believed to have achieved its first flight during 2009 and is currently (2013) undertaking flight testing. At least one of its prototypes has been lost to date.

Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group (CAC) holds a decades-long history concerning modern Chinese aviation, having begun operations as a manufacturer of Soviet-originated jet aircraft during the Cold War during a time when a close relationship between the two Asian powers ruled. Since then, the concern has evolved to designing, developing and producing largely indigenous products for use by the Chinese military and allies (the latter only when export is approved). The Pterodactyl UAV is one such creation, approved for export and, to date, having been evaluated (though not selected) by Pakistan for its MALE UAV requirement.

Externally, the Pterodactyl showcases an appearance not unlike the American "Predator" UAV series, complete with its bulbous nose housing, streamlined fuselage, wheeled undercarriage and outward cranked vertical tail fins. The main wing assemblies are also straight appendages and can hold underwing stores (it is envisioned that the system will make use of up to four underwing guided bombs or missiles). A blister, held under the nose, contains traversing optics. The undercarriage is wheeled for easier management of the system by ground personnel and is fully-retractable into the body of the vehicle when in flight - all of the legs retract rearwards to promote strong aerodynamic qualities. Power is served through a rear-mounted conventional engine driving a three-bladed propeller assembly in a "pusher" configuration.

Internally, the Pterodactyl is being testing with various equipment packages. The aircraft is suspected to carry a synthetic aperture radar system as well as FLIR (Forward-Looking Infra-Red). The total listed payload of the Pterodactyl series is expected to be in the vicinity of 220lbs on production-quality models. Listed specifications include a 175 mile per hour maximum speed, 2,500 mile operational range (with 20 hour mission endurance time reported) and an operating service ceiling of 16,400 feet.

Technical Specifications:
Chengdu Pterodactyl I (Wing Loong)
Medium-Altitude, Long-Endurance (MALE) UAV / UCAV
Focus Model: 
Chengdu Pterodactyl I (Wing Loong)
Country of Origin: 
China
Manufacturer: 
Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group - China
Initial Year of Service: 
2014
Production Total: 
4
Crew: 
0
Length: 
29.69 ft (9.05 m)
Wingspan: 
45 ft 11 in (14 m)
Width: 
45.93 ft (14.00 m)
Height: 
9.09ft (2.77 m)
Weight (Empty): 
0 lb (0 kg)
Weight (MTOW): 
2,425 lb (1,100 kg)
Powerplant: 
1 x Conventionally-powered engine driving a three-bladed propeller
Maximum Speed: 
174 mph (280 kmh; 151 kts)
Maximum Range: 
3,107 miles (5,000 km)
Service Ceiling: 
16,404 ft (5,000 m; 3.1 miles)
Endurance: 
20 hours
Rate-of-Climb: 
0 feet-per-minute (0 m/min)
Hardpoints:
Armament Suite:
Usually sensor equipment. Up to 220lbs of external air-to-surface weaponry
Bombs
FT-10
FT-10
FT-9
FT-7
GB7
GB4
Missiles
BRM1
AKD-10