AVIC Cloud Shadow

The history of AVIC Cloud Shadow

The unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) market continues to grow, and for a large aerospace industry like China, this means a lucrative export market with untapped potential. To this end, Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) demonstrated the drone/UCAV "Cloud Shadow" at the 11th Zhuhai Airshow in November 2016.

The aircraft is a development of Chengdu Aerospace Corporation (CAC), which is operated by AVIC as its parent company.

The products on display have a very sleek, unobtrusive look similar to that offered by the Universal Atom Avenger Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UCAV). The bulbous nose assembly is streamlined, tapering to the rear, with an air intake mounted above the topline. The blades are spanned by outwardly sloping vertical fins.

The main plane of the wing is swept back and centered on the fuselage. The landing gear is wheeled and fully retractable to maintain aerodynamic efficiency.

Cloud Shadows core represents Chinas attempt at a budget-friendly high-altitude, long-endurance (HALE) drone that can be weaponized. Two different versions are mentioned - the standard unarmed reconnaissance model and the armed reconnaissance model. The weapon is externally secured to four underwing hardpoints (two on one wing). Supported munitions include a variety of Chinese precision weapons, including missiles and dropped bombs.

The listed mission payload is 880 lbs.

Performance specs include a top speed of 385 mph, a service ceiling of at least 46,000 feet, and a line-of-sight (LoS) range of up to 180 miles. The aircraft's mission endurance window was set to six hours. The jet engine is most likely a WJ-600 series or similar.

There are three planned production forms for the Cloud Shadow drone family. Cloud Shadow CS-1 is the basic image reconnaissance model that CS-2 is designed to follow, fulfilling the role of electronic reconnaissance. The CS-3 was designed to be a fully armed reconnaissance model.

All will be powered by WP-11C series turbojets.

November 2017 - Cloud Shadow drone model on display during the Dubai Airshow.

Specification

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Production

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Performance

Armor

Changes