China unveils naval variant of WZ-7 reconnaissance drone

Operated by the Navy of the People's Liberation Army of China (PLA), the WZ-7 drone is built by the Guizhou Aircraft Corporation. His external analysis showed that the initial version of the WZ-7 for the Air Force is similar to the role of the Northrop Grumman RQ-4 Global Hawk of the USAF, drone long range, capable of providing reconnaissance, surveillance and reconnaissance.

On January 1, the Japanese Ministry of Defense confirmed that a Chinese WZ-7 had passed through the Miyako Strait and was conducting operations outside the first chain of islands. The Japan Air Force Southwest Air Defense Force raised an F-15J to intercept and monitor the drone as it entered the Japanese Air Defense Identification Zone. It was also the first time that Japanese forces attempted to respond to such an aerial object.

The maritime version of the WZ-7 is somewhat similar to the US Navy's MQ-4C Triton, a maritime version of the RQ-4 focused on extensive maritime surveillance. Because the drones long-range antenna requires a special communication channel beyond the line of sight, so it makes sense to equip it with a wave-transmitting material on the top in order for the antenna to work with the satellite.

ESM antennas were built into the base of the wing to intercept messages or radar signatures from surface combatants to perform a direction finding function and passively locate them.

For years, China has tried to build its own countermeasures against US aircraft carrier strike groups by introducing various anti-ship capabilities, including the DF-21D anti-ship ballistic missile, often referred to as the "Carrier Killer" by the Chinese media. Like any other weapon, in order to hit the target, you must first find it.

This WZ-7 variant can use its radar and ESM suite to complement the existing Chinese maritime ISR network as an important part of the entire Kill Chain ecosystem with a focus on long-range reconnaissance (detection), transmission of a tactical maritime picture and increased situational awareness, as well as provide up-to-date information on target designation to anti-ship units.

Comments

[Leader_Barmaleev]

I would very much like to know how Rostec will respond to this? I mean that China, which even some 30 years ago even the most enthusiastic optimist could not call a technological power, is building such drones and will mass-produce them in the required quantity, and we, with all these TsAGI, aviation research centers and institutes with almost a century of history of aircraft construction and telemechanics have not advanced further than buying household quadrocopters on Ali Express and re-gluing chikukhas with price tags.

[al3x]

During these 30 years, Russia has been optimizing everything and everything by the hands of all sorts of effective managers, many of whom have acquired billions of dollars on the fragments of the empire. Here is the result.

[Fizik13]

Quote: al3x

During these 30 years, Russia has been optimizing everything and everything by the hands of all sorts of effective managers

There are people who are always dissatisfied with everything, they will cheat at least the good news, even the bad!
The fact is that before the NWO, drones, and large ones, were intensively used only by the United States. All other countries were only experimenting, because the concept of using drones on the battlefield had not been developed for a long time.
The first sign was the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict, Turkish Bayraktars (smaller than American ones) were used there, they watched the battlefield and fired at positions.
But the real hysteria began after the SVO. And here the whole world learned, thanks to Russia, what kind of drones are needed, when and how they should be used. Moreover, during the CBO, a bunch of new drones appeared and old drones began to be intensively modernized.

[Nross]

With the existing oligarchic-plutocratic system of power - nothing.
We need to burn out Westernism and outright liberalism in almost all branches of government. Almost everywhere. Exchange for patriots of Russia, and to some extent - for representatives of Great Russian chauvinism, because that liberal gouging with "rights to self-determination", to put it mildly, does not fit into the imperial concept.

[Zaurbek]

For some positions (for example, this one), you need to buy and adapt for yourself (your turbojet engine and some systems), then license and release it.

[Timur_kz]

Who will sell it ... Moreover, the engine is not the most valuable thing there. Filling, radars, electronic brains - you need to do everything yourself.

[Yarik]

the main UAV of the Russian Federation called "Corruption" (which has no analogues in the world) has been flying for a long time /, has been on the wing for more than 30 years

[evgen1221]

And we only have layouts and announcements. And yes, as in the WWI soldier, a helmet is not needed, he looks bravo without a helmet.

[Leader_Barmaleev]

Oh, don’t tell me - this helmet is called pickelhelm, and as the name suggests, the spike on the top of the head was supposed to gore the enemy. So you need a helmet!

[Trapp1st]

the pichka at the top was supposed to gore the enemy

then this one is for washing floors

Safety first!

[Dost]

Do not show your stupidity to a large number of readers. If you don't know what the horse hair on the helmet is for, then others know about it.

[hector]

Quote: Dost

If you don't know what the horse hair on the helmet is for, then others know about it.

Are they disguised as a horse or for automatic polishing of helmets on the move? And, judging by the photo and the length - for tickling the upper part of the ears.

[Voenoboz]

They have interesting side numbers, thousands use them. But the glider is beautiful.

[spirit]

The basis of the basics, modern weapons, high-quality satellite constellation, it is the basis of everything: orientation, control, smart weapons of any formation, and such huge drones.
Even if we have something similar without a powerful grouping, it’s all a pile of iron. Now look how much the same USA and China are launching and what we are into orbit. You can’t show satellites at the parade, so you don’t have to get hung up on them

[km-21]

The combination of forward and backward swept wings somehow looks illogical. From the point of view of saving space on the deck, it probably makes some sense. And from the point of view of aerodynamics, it makes no sense at all. Pitch control becomes much more difficult, and an increased tendency to flutter imposes speed restrictions.

[agond]

This WZ-7 is very similar to the RQ-4 Global Hawk, the only Chinese added a reverse swept upper wing, probably right, the stiffness of the wings increases sharply and they can be made much narrower, which we see in the photo, but in general it would be more correct to compare the aerodynamic quality.

[Arabfun]

Quote: agond

RQ-4 Global Hawk

Used Bing + AI: question: "which is better RQ-4 Global Hawk or WZ-7"
Answer:
The RQ-4 Global Hawk and WZ-7 are reconnaissance unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) that are used for reconnaissance and surveillance. The US-made RQ-4 Global Hawk has the following features¹:
- Wingspan: 39,8 m
- Length: 14,5 m
- Maximum takeoff weight: 14 628 kg
- Payload :1360 kg
- Speed: 574 km/h
- Range: 22 km
- Autonomy: more than 34 hours
- Ceiling: 18 meters
- Armament: no
– Thrust: 137 lb Rolls Royce-North American F100-RR-7600 turbofan

WZ-7 made in China has the following characteristics²:
- Length: 14,33 m
- Wingspan: 24,86 m
- Height: 5,41 m
- Powerplant: Guizhou WP-13 turbojet or engine of unknown type
- Cruising speed: 750 km / h
- Maximum range: 7000 km
- Flight duration: 10 h
- Practical ceiling: 18 km

Which UAV is better - RQ-4 Global Hawk or WZ-7 - depends on the specific task and requirements. Both UAVs have their advantages and disadvantages. For example, the RQ-4 Global Hawk has greater range and autonomy, while the WZ-7 has higher speed and endurance¹².

Source: Bing conversation, 31.03.2023/1/4(4) Allied eyes over the Black Sea: what the strategic RQ-11828658 is capable of .... https://www.unian.net/war/glaza-soyuznikov-nad-chernym-morem -na-chto-sposoben-strategicheskiy-rq-31.03.2023-global-hawk-novosti-vtorzheniya-rossii-na-ukrainu-XNUMX.html Accessed XNUMX/XNUMX/XNUMX.
(2) China Unveils Naval Variant of WZ-7 Recon Drone - Naval News. https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2023/03/china-unveils-naval-variant-of-wz-7-recon-drone/ Accessed 31.03.2023/XNUMX/XNUMX.
(3) The world's largest drone - RQ-4 Global Hawk - YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gtJPs_TbtR0 Accessed 31.03.2023/XNUMX/XNUMX.


which of the Russian UAVs is closer in terms of characteristics to the WZ-7
ZALA AERO produces various models of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) with different characteristics². For example, ZALA 421-20 has a long range of up to 120 km, a wingspan of 6 m and a payload mass of up to 50 kg². However, I did not find information about the specific characteristics of the ZALA AERO in my searches. Can I help you with something else?

Source: Bing conversation, 31.03.2023/1/0(91) ZALA (UAV) - Wikipedia. https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/ZALA_(%D0%9%D0%9F%D0%90B%D31.03.2023%XNUMX) Accessed XNUMX/XNUMX/XNUMX.
(2) Ukrainian air defense destroyed nine drones: Orlan-10 and Zala. What is known about them. https://focus.ua/digital/558088-pvo-ukrainy-unichtozhila-devyat-dronov-orlan-10-i-zala-chto-o-nih-izvestno Accessed 31.03.2023/XNUMX/XNUMX.
(3) ZALA AERO GROUP Unmanned systems (UAVs) - unmanned aircraft .... http://zala.aero/ Accessed 31.03.2023/XNUMX/XNUMX.
(4) ZALA AERO is a manufacturer of UAVs, tactical drones. https://zala.aero/about/ Accessed 31.03.2023/XNUMX/XNUMX.

[Arabfun]

The difference between the US Navy MQ-4C Triton and the RQ4

The MQ-4C Triton is a maritime patrol UAV based on the RQ-4 Global Hawk¹. It is designed with high drop capability in mind and has a reinforced power pack to withstand hail and impacts¹. The MQ-4C Triton is equipped with an X-band radar to detect various surface ships and will be part of the US Navy's Advanced Naval Intelligence System (BAMS)².

The RQ-4 Global Hawk is a remote reconnaissance and surveillance unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) developed by Northrop Grumman for the US Air Force².

Source: Bing conversation, 31.03.2023/1/4(4) Northrop Grumman MQ-31.03.2023C Triton - Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_Grumman_MQ-XNUMXC_Triton Accessed XNUMX/XNUMX/XNUMX.
(2) RQ-4 Global Hawk - Wikipedia. https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/RQ-4_Global_Hawk Accessed 31.03.2023/XNUMX/XNUMX.
(3) MQ-4C Triton | NAVAIR - Naval Air Systems Command. https://www.navair.navy.mil/product/MQ-4C Accessed 31.03.2023/XNUMX/XNUMX.