Strike-Capable Wing Loong II Drone Enters Service With China’s PLAAF

November 8, 2018

The Diplomat:

The Chinese-designed next-generation medium-altitude long-endurance and strike-capable Wing Loong II (also known as Gongji-2 or GJ-2) unnamed aerial vehicle (UAV) has officially entered service with China’s People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF), the service revealed at this year’s Airshow China exhibition. The airshow is taking place from November 6 to 11 in Zhuhai in Guangdong province.

“PLAAF officials declined to provide details about the specific configuration and capabilities of the displayed GJ-2 — which bears the serial number 53130 — or the number and distribution of the type, saying only that it offers significantly longer range, endurance, and payload capacity than the previous GJ-1,” IHS Jane’s reported on November 7. “They would also not disclose if the GJ-1 will eventually be phased out in favor of the newer and more capable air vehicles.”

The PLAAF also did not reveal the number of UAVs to enter service in the future.

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