Breaking news
Airshow China: AVIC adds Cloud Shadow to its family of combat drones.
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Airshow China 2016
1 - 6 November 2016 Zhuhai - Jinwan Airport |
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Airshow China: AVIC adds Cloud Shadow to its family of combat drones
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A new member entered AVIC's family of unmanned combat aerial vehicles, the Cloud Shadow. The Cloud Shadow has been developed for the international market, said AVIC. It is mainly designed for high altitude ISR and precision strike missions thanks to its four hardpoints.
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 The Cloud Shadow and the range of weapons it can carry |
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Each hardpoint of the Cloud Shadow can carry up two weapons side-by-side. It can carry a wide range of bombs and air-to-surface missiles, such as the CS/BBM2 guide glide bomb or the Blue Arrow 21 missile.
For ISR and targeting purposes, the Cloud Shadow is fitted with a sensor ball as well as a second camera in its nose. According to AVIC, the Cloud Shadow has a wingspan of 17.8 m, which is comparable to the U.S. Air Force’s Avenger UAV. The new UAV has a length of 9.08 m and a height of 3.66 m. Developed by Chengdu Aircraft Industry Corporation (CAC), a division of AVIC Aviation Techniques, the Cloud Shadow is powered by a sole propeller and features a 1 tonne fuel capacity. This gives it a maximum flight speed of 620 km/h. Cloud Shadow weights 3,000 kg and has a maximum payload of 400 kg. It features a cruising altitude of 14,000 m and an autonomy of 6 h in a LOS link radius of 290 km. |
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 Cloud Shadow is equipped with a second E/O system in its nose |
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