Chengdu Pterodactyl I

This article is about the Chinese unmanned aerial vehicle. For the 1970s vintage ultralight aircraft, see Pterodactyl Ascender.

Pterodactyl I 翼龙-1
Role	MALE UCAV
Manufacturer	Chengdu
First flight	2009?
Status	Flight testing
Primary user	People's Liberation Army Air Force

The Chengdu Pterodactyl I (Chinese: 翼龙-1^[1]) is a Medium-Altitude Long-Endurance (MALE) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), developed by the Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group in the People's Republic of China. Intended for use as a surveillance and aerial reconnaissance platform, the Pterodactyl I, currently undergoing flight testing, is also capable of being fitted with air-to-surface weapons for use in a unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) role.

Design and development

Developed by the Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group (CAC), a division of the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC),^[2][3] the Pterodactyl I bears a distinct similarity in appearance to the Predator/Reaper family of drones developed by the United States.^[3][4] The drone is capable of being fitted with a variety of sensors, including a forward looking infrared turret and synthetic aperture radar;^[2] in addition, the aircraft is capable of carrying weapons.^[4] The Pterodactyl I's total payload capacity for sensors and weapons is 200 kilograms (440 lb).^[2]

Operational history

According to Chengdu, the Pterodactyl I has been undergoing flight testing and has proven successful, with the flight test program including weapons tests of both bombs and air-to-surface missiles.^[2]

A model of the Pterodactyl I was displayed at the 2010 China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition at Zhuhai, the first public acknowledgment of the program;^[3][4] however, it was claimed by AVIC that the aircraft had been displayed at the 2008 airshow.^[2] The aircraft has been approved for export by Chinese authorities; the Pterodactyl I was evaluated by Pakistan, but was not selected for procurement.^[2]

One example of the type was known to have been lost in an accident during 2011.^[5]

Specifications

Data from ^[2],^[4]

General characteristics

• Crew: None (UAV)
• Length: 9.05 m (29 ft 8 in)
• Wingspan: 14 m (45 ft 11 in)
• Height: 2.77 m (9 ft 1 in)
• Gross weight: 1,100 kg (2,425 lb)
• Propellers: 3-bladed

Performance

• Maximum speed: 280 km/h (170 mph; 150 kn)
• Range: 4,000 km (2,485 mi; 2,160 nmi)
• Endurance: 20 hours
• Service ceiling: 5,000 m (16,404 ft)

Armament

• 100 kilograms (220 lb) of air-to-surface weapons

Avionics

• 100 kilograms (220 lb) capacity for sensors

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

• BAE Mantis
• General Atomics MQ-1 Predator
  

Related lists

• List of Chinese aircraft
• List of unmanned aerial vehicles
  

References

Citations

1. ^ 19 November 2010, Pterodactyl-1 UAV allowed for export, Sina News (Chinese)
2. ^ ^{a b c d e f g} Wall 2010
3. ^ ^{a b c} Minnick 2010
4. ^ ^{a b c d} Zeitler 2011, p.25.
5. ^ Chinese Predator UAV look-alike crashes

Bibliography

• Minnick, Wendell (November 24, 2010). "China Developing Armed/Recon UAVs". Defense News. http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?i=5101322. Retrieved 2011-02-11. 
• Wall, Robert (November 17, 2010). "China's Armed Predator". Aviation Week and Space Technology. http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/blogs/defense/index.jsp?plckController=Blog&plckScript=blogScript&plckElementId=blogDest&plckBlogPage=BlogViewPost&plckPostId=Blog:27ec4a53-dcc8-42d0-bd3a-01329aef79a7Post:e2c4ebce-729c-4722-b293-b3de048981d3. Retrieved 2011-02-10. 
• Zeitler, Andreas (February 2011). "Zhuhai 2010". Combat Aircraft (Hersham, Surrey, UK: Ian Allan Publishing) 12 (2). ISSN 2041-7470.