Documents
China AVIC (Aviation Industry Corporation of China)
Wing Loong I
China's first widely exported armed medium-altitude long-endurance drone, roughly comparable to the MQ-1 Predator, sold to numerous Middle Eastern and African air forces at a lower cost than Western equivalents. Predecessor to the larger Wing Loong II.
In service since 2008 · 10 operator countries
Compiled from public sources ·primary reference ↗ ·last verified 2026-07-02
280
km/h
4,000
km range
5,000
m ceiling
200
kg payload
💲 ≈ $1,000,000, Publicly cited export unit cost estimate
Procurement snapshot
Availability & export
Chinese state channel
State export agencies (NORINCO/CATIC); limited availability to Western-aligned states.
Channel: State export agency
Fielded & proven
Established · 10 operators
In service since 2008. Status: active.
Lifecycle cost (est.)
$2.5M – $3.5M
Acquisition is only ~30% of lifecycle cost, operating & support dominate over ~20 yrs. Rough 2.5–3.5× the unit price. How we estimate this →
Interoperability
No standardised NATO calibre / datalink detected in public specs.
Derived guidance from public data, export regime by country of origin, lifecycle from the GAO ~30% acquisition rule. Verify eligibility, pricing and offsets with the manufacturer and your acquisition authority.
Compatible munitions & weapons
Publicly reported weapons the Wing Loong I can carry. Linked items have a full spec page.
Full specifications
Performance
Speed, range, altitude and engagement capability.
| Max speed Maximum level speed. For aircraft this is at optimal altitude; for ground vehicles, top road speed. Higher means faster response and better kinematic performance. | 280 km/h |
|---|---|
| Cruise speed Sustained economical speed. Determines transit time to station. | 180 km/h |
| Range Maximum distance: ferry range for aircraft, operational range for vehicles, maximum engagement distance for missiles. Higher means more standoff or persistence. | 4,000 km |
| Service ceiling Maximum operating altitude. Higher gives energy advantage and sensor horizon. | 5,000 m |
| Endurance Time on station. Critical for UAVs and patrol platforms, higher means longer persistent coverage. | 20 h |
Firepower
Armament, payload and guidance.
| Hardpoints External stations for weapons and pods. More means bigger and more flexible loadouts. | 2 |
|---|---|
| Weapons payload Maximum ordnance weight the platform can carry. Higher means more strike capacity per sortie. | 200 kg |
Physical
Dimensions, weight and crew.
| Length Overall length including gun/probe where applicable. | 9 m |
|---|---|
| Wingspan Wingtip-to-wingtip span. | 14 m |
| Empty weight Weight without fuel, ammunition or crew. | 1,100 kg |
| Combat weight Fully loaded weight. Lighter eases transport and bridging limits; heavier often means more armor. | 1,200 kg |
| Crew Personnel required to operate. Fewer reduces exposure; autoloaders trade a loader for mechanical complexity. | 0 |
Propulsion
Engine, power and fuel.
| Engine Powerplant model and type. | Piston engine |
|---|---|
| Propulsion type Turbofan, turboshaft, diesel, gas turbine, solid-fuel rocket, ramjet… | Piston, pusher propeller |
Sensors & avionics
Radar, sensor suite and datalinks.
| Sensors IRST, EO/IR turrets, laser designators, sniper pods, thermal sights. | Electro-optical/infrared targeting turret |
|---|---|
| Datalink Network connectivity: Link 16, MADL, national datalinks. Enables cooperative engagement. | LOS datalink, SATCOM |
Program
Cost, production scale and operators.
| Unit cost Approximate flyaway/unit cost where public. Defense pricing varies hugely by contract, offsets and configuration. Lower is cheaper. | $1,000,000 |
|---|---|
| Operator countries Number of countries operating the system. More operators means broader support ecosystem. | 10 |
Specifications compiled from public AVIC (Aviation Industry Corporation of China) and reference sources ↗. Published defense figures are approximations, treat comparisons as directional. Last verified 2026-07-02.
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Wing Loong I vs
Frequently asked questions
What is the top speed of the AVIC (Aviation Industry Corporation of China) Wing Loong I? +
The AVIC (Aviation Industry Corporation of China) Wing Loong I has a maximum speed of 280 km/h.
What is the range of the AVIC (Aviation Industry Corporation of China) Wing Loong I? +
The AVIC (Aviation Industry Corporation of China) Wing Loong I has a maximum range of 4,000 km.
What is the weapons payload of the AVIC (Aviation Industry Corporation of China) Wing Loong I? +
The AVIC (Aviation Industry Corporation of China) Wing Loong I can carry up to 200 kg of weapons payload.
How much does the AVIC (Aviation Industry Corporation of China) Wing Loong I weigh? +
The AVIC (Aviation Industry Corporation of China) Wing Loong I has a combat weight of 1,200 kg.
How many crew does the AVIC (Aviation Industry Corporation of China) Wing Loong I require? +
The AVIC (Aviation Industry Corporation of China) Wing Loong I requires a crew of 0.
What engine does the AVIC (Aviation Industry Corporation of China) Wing Loong I use? +
The AVIC (Aviation Industry Corporation of China) Wing Loong I is powered by the Piston engine.
What is the AVIC (Aviation Industry Corporation of China) Wing Loong I used for? +
The AVIC (Aviation Industry Corporation of China) Wing Loong I is a uav / drone typically used for isr, close air support.
How many countries operate the AVIC (Aviation Industry Corporation of China) Wing Loong I? +
The AVIC (Aviation Industry Corporation of China) Wing Loong I is operated by 10 countries.
How much does the AVIC (Aviation Industry Corporation of China) Wing Loong I cost? +
The AVIC (Aviation Industry Corporation of China) Wing Loong I has an approximate unit cost of 1,000,000 USD. Defense pricing varies by contract, offsets and configuration, treat this as directional.
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