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On December 6-7, 2023, a user named “Rankings and Comparisons” on the Chinese Bilibili video platform published a series of videos titled “The Development History of Major Domestically Produced Integrated Reconnaissance and Strike Multi-Purpose Attack Drones!” The videos provide in-depth technical details about several Chinese drones that fulfill military capacities and that have been unveiled or have entered service over the past decade. These include:
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The CH-4 drone, which has carried out over 7,000 missions and has been exported to countries such as Pakistan, Algeria, and Iraq. This drone has several variants, including: the CH-4A reconnaissance drone; the CH-4B reconnaissance and strike drone; the CH-4C enhanced reconnaissance, electronic warfare, and strike drone; and the KVD002 drone, which is the first integrated reconnaissance and strike drone used by the PLA and is a military variant of the CH-4 drone.
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The CH-10 unmanned tiltrotor reconnaissance and surveillance drone, which has VTOL capabilities.
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The TB-001 “Twin-Tailed Scorpion” drone, with a range enabling it to take off from any airstrip in China and reach any location in the country without needing to refuel or land, and which has recently conducted a patrol around Taiwan. Variants of this drone include the enhanced TB-A triple-engine drone and the TB-D four-engine drone.
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The Tianying (“Sky Hawk”) high-altitude, high-velocity stealth reconnaissance and surveillance drone.
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The WJ-700 “Falcon” long-range reconnaissance and strike drone, which is equipped with a high-thrust turbofan engine and is intended to meet international market demands.
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The Wing Loong-2 (WL-2) strike drone, which has been exported by China, even being used by Nigeria against Boko Haram militants. This drone has a military variant designated GJ-2.
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The Wing Loong-3 (WL-3) reconnaissance and strike drone, which can carry a particularly heavy payload.
Narrator: "CH-4. The CH-4 drone is divided into the reconnaissance-oriented CH-4A and the reconnaissance-strike integrated CH-4B, abandoning the outdated design of the earlier CH-3 and instead of adopting a high aspect ratio, flat straight wings, and V-tail configuration similar to the Wing Loong-1. It has a maximum takeoff weight of 1.33 tons, a payload capacity of 345 kilograms, a flight time of 30 hours, a maximum speech of 230 kilometers per hour, a flight ceiling of 7,200 meters, and four external pylons capable of carrying a variety of weapons. According to media reports, an improved CH-4C model successfully underwent a live-fire test flight verification in January 2018 in a northwestern region of China. This model features enhancements to its engine and electronic equipment, upgrades to more advanced processing technology, and improved mission payload capacity.
"In August 2022, the CH-4 series drone equipped with a domestically-produced heavy fuel piston engine successfully completed its maiden flight. Additionally, the KVD002, the first integrated reconnaissance and strike drone system used by the Chinese army, is a variant of the CH-4 adapted for army use. The CH-4 drone has also performed exceptionally well in the export market, having been delivered to countries such as Pakistan, Algeria, and Iraq. It has successfully carried out over 7,000 missions, with a cumulative flight time exceeding 40,000 hours.
"CH-10. The CH-10 unmanned light tiltrotor aircraft, showcased at the 2018 Zhuhai Airshow, marks the beginning of China's development in the field of medium and large-scale unmanned tiltrotor aircraft. This new type of UAV combines the characteristics of fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters, featuring vertical takeoff and landing as well as hovering capabilities similar to helicopters, along with the high speed and long range of fixed-wing aircraft. It has a maximum takeoff weight of 450 kilograms and a top speed of 320 kilometers per hour.
"In terms of appearance, the CH-1o resembles the U.S. V-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft. However, unlike the Osprey, which tilts both its engine and rotor during transition, the CH-10 places its engine inside the fuselage and uses a drive shaft to transmit power to the rotors on both sides. The CH-10 can perform tasks such as reconnaissance, detection, communication relay, search, target designation, and guidance relay. Additionally, the integration of reconnaissance and strike capabilities into its design is also being considered as part of future upgrades.
"The TB-001 'Twin-Tailed Scorpion' unmanned aerial vehicle [UAV], developed by Sichuan Tengden Technology Company, features a twin-tail boom design, similar to the American OV-10 'Bronco' light attack reconnaissance aircraft and the P-61 fighter aircraft. Initially powered by two piston engines, it made its debut at the 2017 China-ASEAN Expo and was codenamed 'Twin-Tailed Scorpion.'
"Later, the enhanced three-engine TB-A, which showcased its payload capabilities with a flying demonstration at the Zhuhai Air Show, added a third engine at the rear of the fuselage. The drone has a length of 10 meters, a wingspan of 20 meters, a maximum cruising speed of 220 km/h, and an endurance of up to 35 hours. It has a maximum payload capacity of 1.2 tons. The drone's strong weapon-carrying capabilities include three pylons on each side, which can be further adapted with composite mounting points as needed to increase payload capacity. It can carry various types of larger, longer range precision strike weapons for land and sea targets, as well as smaller bombs, missiles, and even sub-drones for new combat modes. This gives it exceptional capabilities against concealed and time-sensitive targets.
"Additionally, the TB-001 has a maximum range exceeding 7,000 kilometers. To put this into perspective, this range allows the drone to take off from any airport in China and reach any corner of the country without needing to refuel or land. In 2022, the large four-engine TB-D successfully conducted its maiden flight, becoming the world's first large four-engine, multi-purpose, medium altitude, long endurance fixed-wing drone. Initially designed for transport purposes, it has a maximum payload capacity of 1.5 tons. The TB-D has significant potential for modifications and could be developed into various types of functional military drones, including battlefield logistics transport.
"The operational cost of deploying one drone is about one-thirtieth that of a manned fighter jet. Combined with its formidable performance, the TB-001 has carried out multiple reconnaissance and surveillance missions in the Miyako Strait southwest of the Ryukyu Islands since 2022, gradually entering public attention. On April 27 this year, the TB-001 conducted a counterclockwise patrol of around Taiwan Island, sparking widespread attention.
"Tainying [Sky Hawk]. At the 2018 Zhuhai Airshow, the HIWING Aviation Company under the China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation showcased its independently developed Tianying [Sky Hawk] high-altitude, high-speed, long-endurance stealth drone. The drone features a flying wing configuration and is equipped with a domestically developed engine. It is characterized by high stealth capability, long endurance, a large operational radius, and a high degree of intelligence. The drone is designed to conduct sustained tactical and operation reconnaissance in high-threat and highly contested environments, as well as perform long-range, wide-area surveillance missions over distant seas.
"With advanced stealth capabilities, it can penetrate dense air defense systems, detect key enemy targets, provide guidance for our firepower systems, and can also carry weapons to attack those targets. Currently, the Tianying is primarily positioned as a tactical and operational penetration reconnaissance drone. With future developments in the series, it could evolve into a reconnaissance-strike integrated platform, with additional mission-specific payloads added based on operational requirements.
"WJ-700 'Falcon.' The WJ-700 high-altitude, high-speed, long-endurance reconnaissance and strike-integrated UAV, codenamed 'Falcon,' made its debut as a model at the 2018 Zhuhai Airshow. It successfully completed its maiden flight test on January 11, 2021, the 10th anniversary of J-20's first flight. As the first domestic high-altitude, high speed, long-endurance integrated reconnaissance and strike UAV system to achieve its maiden flight, the WJ-700 is equipped with the country's first one-ton-thrust-class high-performance, high-reliability turbofan engine. It incorporates extensive use of advanced technologies, including carbon fiber composite materials.
"The WJ-700 has a fuselage length of 10.5 meters, a wingspan of 22 meters, a maximum endurance of 20 hours, a cruising speed of 600 km/h, a flight ceiling of 15,000 meters, and a maximum takeoff weight of 3.5 tons. Its maximum payload is reportedly 1.5 tons. The WJ-700 is designed to meet domestic and international market demands over the next 5 to 10 years, integrating high-altitude, high-speed, long-endurance, and heavy-load capabilities. It can be adapted to 11 configurations and 9 operation modes as needed, enabling capabilities for precision air-to-ground strikes, including standoff and attacks, anti-ship, and anti-radiation operations, as well as wide-area reconnaissance and surveillance operations. Capable of operating in high-threat battlefield environments, the WJ-700 can perform diverse combat missions and has already secured significant overseas military export deals.
"WL-2. The Wing Loong-2 (WL-2) medium-altitude, long endurance UAV was showcased at the 2016 Zhuhai Airshow and had its maiden flight in 2017. Even before its first flight, it secured the largest export order for Chinese drones. The WL-2 has a wingspan of 20.5 meters, a maximum takeoff weight of 4.2 tons, and a maximum payload capacity of 480 kilograms, though it is said to be capable of carrying up to 1 ton. In terms of power, the WL-2 replaces its piston engine with turboprop power system, making it China's first domestically produced large UAV with a turboprop engine. It is also the first in the country to achieve the control of multiple UAVs using a single ground station.
"At the 2021, Zhuhai Airshow, the WL-2, equipped with an electro-optical pod and synthetic aperture radar... demonstrated its seven pylons fully loaded with various missiles, bombs, and mission pods. It performed a flight display, marking the first time a large UAV conducted a flight demonstration at an international airshow. The display showcased capabilities such as fully autonomous takeoff and landing, climb, cruise flight, and air-ground coordination, reflecting that China's large fixed-wing UAV systems have reached world class standards. The WL-2 has also performed exceptionally in exports. Nigeria publicly released a video showing the WL-2 eliminating over 100 Boko Haram extremists. Furthermore, specialized versions of the WL-2 have been developed, including anti-submarine reconnaissance and emergency disaster relief models, expanding its applications. The version used by the Chinese military is designed as the GJ-2, which visually differs by omitting the winglets on the tips of the WL-2's wings.
"The Wing Loong-3 (WL-3), an integrated reconnaissance and strike unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), made its debut at the 2022 Zhuhai Airshow. Developed by the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), it is a new-generation medium-altitude, long endurance UAV system, with features such as long range, heavy payload, and multi-purpose capabilities. Additionally, a model of the WL-X UAV, also integrated reconnaissance and the strike platform, was showcased at this years, Paris Air Show, although it is unclear if it is an upgraded version of the WL-3. The WL-3 has fuselage length of 12.2 meters, a height of 4.3 meters, and a wingspan of 24 meters. It boasts a maximum takeoff weight of 6.2 tons, a maximum payload capacity of 2.3 tons, and can carry 2 tons of payload as well as 300 kilograms of built-in payload. Its payload capacity rival that of some light combat aircraft and armed helicopters.
"The UAV has a maximum endurance of over 40 hours and a range exceeding 10,000 kilometers, enabling intercontinental flights. It features nine hardpoints, including eight under-wing hardpoints and one under-fuselage hardpoint, capable of carrying various reconnaissance pods, PL-10E short-range air-to-air missiles, air-to-ground missiles for standoff strikes, precision-guided bombs, and anti-ship missiles. It can also be equipped with anti-submarine sonar pods and lightweight torpedoes for submarine search and anti-submarine missions.
"The WL-3 is capable of fully autonomous take off, landing, and cruise flights. It can perform a wide range of missions, including all-domain reconnaissance and strikes, cross-domain support and coordination, and operations in contested environments. It is suited for maritime escorts, anti-submarine warfare, close air support, anti-radiation strikes, low-altitude surveillance and interception, electronic reconnaissance and jamming, communication relay, and maritime search and rescue. It is anticipated that the WL-3 will conduct its maiden flight soon and could be deployed with the People's Liberation Army [PLA] in the near future."
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