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Airshow China 201 6
1 - 6 November 2016
Zhuhai - Jinwan Airport
 
 
Airshow China: Improved version of CAIG Wing Loong 1 UAV emerges
 
A new improved variant of CAIG Wing Loong I UAV emerged last week at Airshow China 2016 in Zhuhai China. According to few details released by the chinese manufacturer, the Wing Loong 1-D UAV features i.e a bigger wingspan and external payload capacity.
     
Airshow China Zhuhai 2016 59 CAIG's Wing Loong 1-D at Zhuhai Airshow 2016
     
CAIG's Wing Loong 1-D variant is a shortened variant of the baseline UAV. It features a length of 8.7 m, which is 30 cm shorter than its brother. On the other hand, its wingspan has been expanded from 14 m to 17,6 m. Its height has been increased from 2.7 m to 3.2 m.

The new 1-D version features a maximum ceiling of 7,500 m, that is 1,500 m more than the previous version.

One of the main improvements relies on the growth of the external payload, which was quadrupled to reach 400 kg. Furthermore, the 1-D version is equipped with two pylons on each wing. It can carry a wide range of air-to-ground and air-to-air weapons, such as AKD-10 air-to-surface anti-tank missile, BRMI-90 90mm guided rocket, and GB-7/50 50kg precision-guided munition.

Its endurance has almost doubled, reaching 35 hours.

As the 1-D variant, the Wing Loong 1 is powered by a 3-bladed propeller, giving it a maximum speed of 280 km/h. The CAIG Wing Loong 1 is a medium-altitude long-endurance UAV which first flew in 2009. It has already been purchased by China, Saudi Arabia, Kazakhstan and UAE.