Generally speaking, Chinese naval drones can be divided into two different roles.
The first is intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions, which are fulfilled
by a large number of UAV designs.
Chinese naval strategy includes the use of anti-ship ballistic missiles against opposing
carrier battle groups, and this plan relies on the ability to find and track opposing
warships.
Long-range reconnaissance drones are one of the several methods to find enemy warships.
The second role for Chinese naval UAVs is to support amphibious landing operations with
air-to-ground weapons.
In particular, the combat drones are geared for precision strikes and suppression of air
defences.
Let’s look at the five types of Chinese naval drones.
First, we have a fairly basic scouting drone called the Wing-Loong 1.
It is employed for medium-to-low altitude reconnaissance, with a secondary strike function.
Note the pronunciation of the Romanised English name is very different to the Chinese name,
which is the Yi-Long 1, meaning the pterosaur.
China has somewhere north of 60 of these in service, and has exported them widely to various
countries within its sphere of influence, such as Bangladesh, Pakistan, Egypt, Kazakhstan
and other central Asian countries.
The UAV’s body structure is made of aluminium alloy.
With a fuselage of 9.3 meters, a wingspan of 14 meters and a height of 2.7 meters, the
Wing-Loong 1 has a large aspect ratio, so it has a large lift force, a small induced
resistance, and a large cruising lift resistance, meaning it can stay in the air for a long
time.
Range is 4,000 kilometres, with a flight endurance of 20 hours.
The Wing- Loong 1 is equipped with basic yet reliable sensors, such as a forward-looking
infrared turret, and synthetic aperture radar.
Additionally, it has a laser range-finder and electronic countermeasures equipment.
It can be armed with a small payload of air-to-surface weapons, although these are short range.
According to the manufacturer, the Chengdu Aerospace Corporation, the Wing-Loong 1 is
designed for surveillance, reconnaissance, some light amount of ground attack, and maritime
patrol, with a focus on sustained long endurance.
It has a wide range of peacetime usage as well, for example in disaster monitoring,
anti-smuggling and anti-drug operations, border patrol, and interestingly enough pesticide
spraying and forest firefighting.
The Wing-Loong 1 is one of the most common medium-range aerial reconnaissance platform
in the Chinese Navy.
Secondly, we have the Harbin BZK-005, another reconnaissance UAV.
It is known as the ‘Sea Eagle’ in the service of the Navy, and as the Giant Eagle
in the Air Force.
There are several key differences between the BZK-005 and the aforementioned Wing-Loong
1.
The BZK has a far longer endurance and larger range by implication than the Wing-Loong 1.
The BZK can stay in the air for 40 hours, twice as long as the Wing-Loong 1.
The BZK is also better designed to handle the harsh maritime environment.
With anti-corrosion design, it can withstand the salty and wet conditions on the ocean,
and be deployed in all weather conditions and sea states.
It also has a far higher maximum altitude of 8,000 metres.
Consequently, BZK-005 is far better at long-range reconnaissance missions, taking advantage
of its long endurance, anti-corrosion and high altitude.
In terms of sensors, it has a synthetic aperture radar in a radome under the nose, and a mid-mounted
electro-optical and infrared turret.
Taking advantage of the long range of the BZK, the Chinese military frequently deploys
the UAVs on maritime surveillance missions over the East China Sea, where they tend to
run into Japanese combat aircraft.
The BZK-005 is specifically configured for wide-area intelligence, surveillance, and
reconnaissance.
By the way, if you enjoyed our video so far, please press the like button.
Next, we have the GJ-11 Sharp Sword, a stealthy combat UAV, or shortly UCAV.
Unlike all the other drones we have seen so far, the main purpose of the GJ-11 is to attack.
Specifically, the UCAV is designed for air-to-ground precision strikes, and suppression of air
defences in a high-threat environment.
In 2013, images of the drone’s first flight appeared on the internet.
In 2019, the Chinese Air Force officially unveiled the GJ-11 in a military parade, although
at the time it was still unclear what the drone is to be used for.
In 2021 at an Air Show, the true purpose of the GJ-11 was finally revealed with reference
to its capacity to carry a large amount of precision weapons.
The GJ-11 has at least two internal weapon bays, and possibly more still to be confirmed,
which can hold four precision-guided air-to-ground missiles in each weapon bay, for a total of
eight weapons.
Alternatively, each weapon bay can hold a single large satellite-guided glide bomb.
The GJ-11 has a very noticeable stealth design, with a smooth surface and a clear effort at
edge alignment.
There’s also the stealthy shaping of the rear airframe around the engine exhaust, and
serrated weapon bay doors.
The stealth capability of the UCAV is indispensable for penetrating highly contested airspace
and making precision strikes against well-defended targets.
Furthermore, there are credible rumours that a navalised GJ-11 will be a key part of the
complement of China’s future Type 076 LHD amphibious warship.
The Type 076 reportedly will carry a fixed-wing complement of UAVs and UCAVs, for the purpose
of supporting amphibious landings against well-defended beaches.
The GJ-11 is expected to play the role of close air support in that context.
In October 2022, Chinese media showed a computer graphics of thee GJ-11s being controlled by
a two-seat J-20 fighter, similar to the US Loyal Wingman UAVs.
They will accompany the fighter, and provide recon and lethal support in a combat situation.
When China’s J-35 carrier fighter enter service, it is entirely possible that one
of the next steps is to incorporate loyal wingman UAVs onto the J-35.
The loyal wingman is widely seen as the future of air-to-air warfare in beyond-visual-range
1.
Like its predecessor, the Wing-Loong 2 is a medium-altitude long-endurance UAV, with
a very similar basic layout for the design.
However, it is much larger, with a longer fuselage and wider wingspan.
The key change from its predecessor in terms of functions is that the Wing-Loong 2 is properly
considered a multi-purpose UAV, capable of both reconnaissance and precision attacks,
and do both of these pretty well.
It has three external hardpoints under each wing to carry ordnances, for a total of six
external hardpoints.
It can carry up to 480 kilograms of weapons, far greater than the 200 or so kilograms on
the Wing-Loong 1.
According to the manufacturer, the Wing-Loong 2 can carry 12 laser-guided bombs or missiles,
while in contrast the Wing Loong 1 can only carry two bombs or missiles.
Clearly, the Wing-Loong 2 is heads and shoulders above its predecessor in terms of ground attack,
although nowhere near as powerful as the GJ-11 of course.
The Wing-Loong 2 is still very able to conduct reconnaissance and surveillance missions.
It is fitted with infrared cameras and an electro-optical sensor to collect surveillance
and targeting data.
A satellite communication device allows the operator on the ground to remotely control
the UAV if required, and to receive real-time intel and targeting data on enemy assets.
The last on the list is the Wing Loong-10 UAV of the Air Force, with the official designation
as the WZ-10.
The WZ-10 is a very special drone.
It is a dedicated electronic warfare UAV.
China first showcased the prototype of the Wing Loong-10 at the Nanchang Air Show in
2020.
It officially entered service in November 2022, during the Zhuhai Air Show.
It is a lightweight high-altitude UAV, with a flight ceiling of 12,500 metres, and designed
for electronics intelligence and possibly electronic countermeasures as well.
Electronic warfare systems detect, monitor, or interfere with signals in the electromagnetic
spectrum, often radar systems, to defend military assets from potential threats.
The WZ-10 can perform electronic surveillance and reconnaissance, by using its electronic
support system to detect and locate enemy radar emitters.
It can reportedly detect electromagnetic signals within a radius of 200 kilometres.
If it is capable of electronic countermeasures as well, it would be able to disable enemy
radar, radio communications, and the guidance systems of weapons.
Unmanned assets are the future of naval warfare, and this is not just about UAVs, but also
unmanned surface vessels, and autonomous underwaters vehicles as well.
The Chinese Navy is keeping up with the major naval powers in the West in developing unmanned
assets, and incorporating these into its active forces.
Chinese naval drones are employed in surveillance and reconnaissance, with the aim of finding
opposing warships so they can be targeted by heavier weapons, such as anti-ship ballistic
missiles.
Secondly, Chinese drones provide essential air support during amphibious landing operations.
The next step in the progress of the Chinese Navy’s unmanned assets will likely be underwater.
China is building increasingly larger and more numerous unmanned underwater vehicles,
which will be part of its counter to Western submarine forces.
If you want to learn more about the different types of UAVs revealed at the Zhuhai Air Show
2022 in China, the country’s largest military and aerospace expo, please watch this video
right here.