Article Posted on : - Jan 06, 2015

The Wing Loong unmanned combat aerial vehicle of China. A file photo

BEIJING (BNS): The Pterosaur unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) of China has undergone maiden flight test last week and mass delivery of the new drone is expected this year, according to a media report.

The Pterosaur (also called Wing Loong) medium altitude long-endurace (MALE) UAV, developed by the Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group, a subsidiary of the Aviation Industry Corp of China (AVIC), made its maiden test flight in formations in early 2015.

After more than 20 minutes of flying over mountainous in south China's Guizhou province, the Pterosaurs found the airport accurately and landed successfully, the official China Military Online reported.

Flying in formations may help the Pterosaurs collaborate better during tasks performance, which is also a big test for the control system, it said.

As an advanced UAV in the world capable of carrying gout reconnaissance and precise strikes, Pterosaur, with its outstanding performance, has attracted a number of domestic and foreign users, the website said.

The new combat drone, unveiled during the 2012 Zhuhai Air Show, weighs 1.1 tonnes, is nine metres long and has a 14-metre wingspan. The remotely-operated aircraft is capable of carrying a range of weapons, including air-to-ground missiles, laser-guided and precision guided bombs.

It can fly at a maximum altitude of 5,300 metres (over 17,000 ft) and has a range of over 3,000 kms. The payload carrying capability of the drone is up to 200-kg. Resembling the US's MQ-1 Predator drone, the Pterosaur is designed for both military and non-military operations.