Chengdu WZ-7 Xianglong ("Soaring Dragon") joined-wing UAV/UCAV

[malipa]

Strange that the wingtips bend down during flight... Especially with it's high aspect ratio this shouldn't occur...

 

[Deino]

Strange that the wingtips bend down during flight... Especially with it's high aspect ratio this shouldn't occur...

I think this is simply a mistake made by the arist ... to remember: It is not a real Image, but "only" a CG !!!

 

[malipa]

Ok I totally fell for that one XD, it looks pretty real...

 

[overscan (PaulMM)]

The revised Xianglong 2 is designated WZ-7 and several are in service. Engine is thought to be an AI-222-25 of 2500kg thrust.

 

[TomcatViP]

Aren't those pictures already a couple of years old?

 

[overscan (PaulMM)]

Aren't those pictures already a couple of years old?

Yep but this topic was sadly neglected since the original prototype.

 

[Deino]

This is recent

 

[sferrin]

A beauty. Looks like they changed the nozzle. (Compare to pics on page one of this thread.)

 

[overscan (PaulMM)]

There's some debate if the original config actually flew or was just a mockup or RCS test model I think. The actual drone has a number of differences to that first version including twin vertical tails replacing the single tail.

 

[datafuser]

The WZ-7 appeared near Okinawa for the first time on Jan 1. At that time the Chinese carrier battle group was coming back to China after exercising east of Okinawa from Dec 17.

https://www.mod.go.jp/js/pdf/2023/p20230101_01.pdf

https://www.mod.go.jp/js/pdf/2023/p20230102_01.pdf

 

[BullpupRafale]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1772577823196106827

View: https://twitter.com/foolsball/status/1772577823196106827