View source for Guizhou WZ-7 Soaring Dragon

{|{{Infobox aircraft begin
| name = WZ-7 Soaring Dragon
| image = WZ-7 at Airshow China Zhuhai 2022.jpg
| size = 300px
| alt = 
| caption = WZ-7 at Airshow China Zhuhai 2022
}}{{Infobox aircraft type
| type = [[Unmanned aerial vehicle|Unmanned]] [[surveillance aircraft|maritime surveillance]] and [[maritime patrol aircraft|patrol aircraft]]
| national origin = [[People's Republic of China]]
| manufacturer = [[Guizhou Aircraft Industry Corporation]]
| designer = [[Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group]]
| first flight = 
| introduced = 
| introduction = 2018<ref name="janes_16ad"/>
| retired = 
| status = In production<ref name="janes_16ad"/>
| primary user = [[People's Liberation Army Air Force]]
| more users = [[People's Liberation Army Navy]]
| produced = 2015/2016 - ?<ref name="Harpia">{{cite book |last1=Rupprecht |first1=Andreas |title=Modern Chinese Warplanes:Chinese Air Force - Aircraft and Units |publisher=Harpia Publishing |date=2018 |isbn=978-09973092-6-3 |page=106}}</ref>
| number built = 20
| program cost = 
| developed from = 
| variants with their own articles = 
| developed into = 
}}
|}

The '''Guizhou WZ-7 Soaring Dragon''' ({{zh|s=无侦-7 翔龙|p=Wú zhēn-qī Xiáng Lóng}}) is a [[high-altitude long endurance]] [[unmanned aerial vehicle]] (UAV) from the People's Republic of China.<ref name="janes_16ad">{{cite web |last1=Rupprecht |first1=Andreas |last2=Dominguez |first2=Gabriel |title=Chinese air force equips 16th Air Division with WZ-7 HALE UAVs |url=https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/chinese-air-force-equips-16th-air-division-with-wz-7-hale-uavs |website=Janes |date=11 November 2021 |access-date=18 August 2022}}</ref><ref name="fg_bazaar">{{cite web |last1=Waldron |first1=Greg |title=Zhuhai UAV bazaar returns with a vengeance |url=https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A677324928/ITOF?u=wikipedia&sid=ebsco&xid=b01222a3 |website=FlightGlobal |publisher=Gale General OneFile |date=29 September 2021 |access-date=18 August 2022}}</ref> The aircraft features a unique joined-wing design.<ref name="fg_bazaar"/>

The primary mission is expected to be [[aerial reconnaissance]], but it may also be fitted to provide targeting data for [[anti-ship ballistic missile]]s and [[cruise missile]]s.<ref name="CA" />

==Development==
The WZ-7 was designed by the [[Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group]] and constructed by the [[Guizhou Aircraft Industry Corporation]]. A model appeared at the 2006 [[China International Aviation & Aerospace Exhibition]].<ref name="AFM"/> The first flight has not occurred as of 2011. The drone conducted [[radar cross-section]] testing.<ref name="AFM"/> The WZ-7 entered serial production in 2015 to 2016.<ref name="Harpia" /> A complete redesign of WZ-7 was observed in 2020 with the [[Chinese Air Force]] roundel. The redesign featured V-tails, a different engine nozzle with the [[Guizhou WS-13|WS-13]] turbofan engine, and changes to the ventral fin and the sail structure.<ref name="wz7_2020">{{cite web|url=https://www.china-arms.com/2020/12/wz7-drone-help-carrier-killer/ |title=Xianglong WZ-7 drone commissioned to guide carrier-killer missiles |website=China Arms |date=18 December 2020 }}</ref> The WZ-7 UAV was officially unveiled by the military at the [[Zhuhai Airshow]] in 2021.<ref name="fg_bazaar"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.armyrecognition.com/defense_news_november_2021_global_security_army_industry/new_largest_chinese-made_hale_combat_drone_wz-7_soar_dragon_enters_into_service.html |title=New largest Chinese-made HALE combat drone WZ-7 Soar Dragon enters into service |website=armyrecognition |date=11 November 2021}}</ref> It was displayed again in 2022.<ref name="thedrive_zhuhai2022">{{cite web|url=https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/all-the-air-combat-developments-out-of-chinas-massive-air-show |title=All The Air Combat Developments Out Of China's Massive Air Show |website=The Drive |date=7 November 2022 |first=Joseph |last=Trevithick }}</ref>

==Design==
Larger than most UAVs, the WZ-7 features a tandem, joined-wing design, which allows for a more rigid, less flexible wing than other configurations, with benefits said to include an increased [[lift-to-drag ratio]] and less complex flight controls than a [[Atmospheric satellite#High-altitude long endurance|HALE]] UAV with a conventional wing.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.defensenews.com/unmanned/2021/09/30/chinese-airshow-offers-glimpse-at-militarys-new-drones/ |title=Chinese airshow offers glimpse at military's new drones |website=Defense News |date=30 September 2021 |first=Mike |last=Yeo}}</ref><ref name="AFM"/><ref name="CA">{{cite journal|title=World News: China's Soar Eagle UAV revealed|journal=Combat Aircraft|date=September 2011|editor1-first=Thomas|editor1-last=Newdick|publisher=[[Ian Allan Publishing]]|location=Hersham, Surrey, UK|volume=12|issue=9|page=30|issn=2041-7489}}</ref> The air intake for the engine is mounted atop the fuselage, with the engine itself mounted in the rear of the aircraft.<ref name="AFM"/> The prototype aircraft is powered by a [[Guizhou WP-13]] [[turbojet]] engine, a copy of the Soviet [[Tumansky R-13]]; it is anticipated that an improved engine will be installed in production aircraft.<ref name="AFM"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.airrecognition.com/index.php/news/defense-aviation-news/2022-news-aviation-aerospace/february/8200-chinese-uav-wz-7-soar-dragon-conducts-live-combat-training.html |title=Chinese UAV WZ-7 Soar Dragon conducts live combat training |website=airrecognition |date=16 February 2022 }}</ref>

The operational WZ-7 has a significantly modified shape. The single vertical tail on the prototype was changed to a pair of canted tails.<ref name="wz7_change">{{cite web|url=https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/japanese-fighters-intercept-chinas-high-flying-wz-7-drone-for-first-time |title=Japanese Fighters Intercept China's High-Flying WZ-7 Drone For First Time |website=The Drive |date=3 January 2023 |first=Thomas |last=Newdick }}</ref> A turbofan engine was installed on the production model.<ref name="wz7_2020" /> Due to the different engine and aerodynamics, the endurance of the production model is unknown. The aircraft could cruise significantly longer<ref name="twz_240326"/> than the 10 hours advertised for the prototype.<ref name="wz7_change" />

==Operational history==
The WZ-7 entered service with the [[People's Liberation Army Air Force]] in 2018<ref name="janes_16ad"/> and a number were deployed to the [[Tibet Autonomous Region]], [[Hainan Island]], and [[Yishuntun Airbase]] near North Korea.<ref name="bell">{{cite news |url=https://www.bellingcat.com/news/rest-of-world/2018/03/23/soar-dragon-uavs-deploy-yishuntun-airbase/ |title=Soar Dragon UAVs Deploy to Yishuntun Airbase |website=Offiziere.ch |publisher=[[Bellingcat]] |date=23 March 2018|access-date=2019-09-15}}</ref>

On 24 July 2019, a WZ-7 shadowed the American {{sclass|Ticonderoga|cruiser|1}} {{USS|Antietam|CG-54|6}} as she transited the [[Taiwan Strait]].<ref name="axe">{{cite web |last1=Axe |first1=David |title=China's Giant Spy Drone Just Tailed a U.S. Navy Cruiser |url=https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/china%E2%80%99s-giant-spy-drone-just-tailed-us-navy-cruiser-69881 |website=[[The National Interest]] |date=29 July 2019|access-date=2019-09-15}}</ref>

On 15 December 2022, it was reported that China had allegedly deployed WZ-7 UAVs near the Indian border in Tibet.<ref>{{Cite web|url= https://theigmp.org/china-deploys-guizhou-wz-7-soaring-dragon-drones-at-shigatse-airport-in-tibet-near-border-with-india/|title= China deploys Guizhou WZ-7 Soaring Dragon HALE drones at Shigatse Airport in Tibet near the border with India|language=en|date=2022-12-15}}</ref>

On 26 March 2024, a China People's Liberation Army (PLA) WZ-7 high-altitude long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) undertook flight maneuvers over the Sea of Japan.<ref name="twz_240326">{{Cite web|url= https://www.twz.com/air/first-known-chinese-wz-7-high-altitude-drone-flight-over-sea-of-japan |title=China’s WZ-7 High-Altitude Drone Makes First Known Flight Over Sea Of Japan |language=en|date=26 March 2024 |website=The War Zone |first=Joseph |last=Trevithick }}</ref>

Based on satellite images, the WZ-7 likely began its deployment over the South China Sea in 2022. On 18 April 2024, the WZ-7 was observed flying over the [[West Philippine Sea]], the southeast section of the South China Sea. The drone was likely monitoring the deployment of the [[Typhon missile launcher]] by the United States on [[Luzon]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.twz.com/air/chinas-high-altitude-wz-7-drone-has-appeared-near-the-philippines |title=China’s High-Altitude WZ-7 Drone Has Appeared Near The Philippines |website=The War Zone |date=18 April 2024 |first=Joseph |last=Trevithick }}</ref>

==Operators==
;{{PRC}}
*[[People's Liberation Army Air Force]]: 12 units as of 2022<ref name="IISS_2023">{{Cite book|author=The International Institute for Strategic Studies|title=The Military Balance 2023|date=15 February 2023 |publisher=Routledge |location=London |chapter=6 Asia |isbn=9781003400226 |doi=10.4324/9781003400226|s2cid=256916955 }}</ref>
*[[People's Liberation Army Naval Air Force]]: 8 units as of 2018<ref name="uav planaf">{{cite book |last1=Rupprecht |first1=Andreas |title=Modern Chinese Warplane: Chinese Naval Aviation - Aircraft and Units |date=2018 |publisher=Harpia Publishing |isbn=978-09973092-5-6 |page=36}}</ref>

==Specifications (Soaring Dragon prototype)==
[[File:Soar Dragon.jpg|thumb|right|Artist's impression of the WZ-7 prototype]]
{{Aircraft specs
|ref=AirForces Monthly<ref name="AFM">{{cite magazine|date=September 2011 |title=News Headlines: Has China Unveiled Its Soar Dragon? |magazine=[[AirForces Monthly]] |issue=282 |pages=4–5 |location=London |publisher=Key Publishing |editor1-first=Gary |editor1-last=Parsons}}</ref>

|prime units?=met

|genhide=

|crew=None
|capacity=
|length m=14.33
|length ft=
|length in=
|length note=
|span m=24.86
|span ft=
|span in=
|span note=
|height m=5.41
|height ft=
|height in=
|height note=
|wing area sqm=
|wing area sqft=
|wing area note=
|aspect ratio=
|airfoil=
|empty weight kg=
|empty weight lb=
|empty weight note=
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|gross weight note=
|max takeoff weight kg=
|max takeoff weight lb=
|max takeoff weight note=
|fuel capacity=
|more general=

|eng1 number=1
|eng1 name= [[Guizhou WP-13]]
|eng1 type= turbojet or unknown type of turbofan
|eng1 kn=43.1
|eng1 lbf=
|eng1 note=
|power original=
|thrust original=

|perfhide=

|max speed kmh=
|max speed mph=
|max speed kts=
|max speed note=
|max speed mach=
|cruise speed kmh=
|cruise speed mph=
|cruise speed kts=405
|cruise speed note=
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|never exceed speed kmh=
|never exceed speed mph=
|never exceed speed kts=
|never exceed speed note=
|minimum control speed kmh=
|minimum control speed mph=
|minimum control speed kts=
|minimum control speed note=
|range km=7000
|range miles=
|range nmi=
|range note=
|combat range km=2000
|combat range miles=
|combat range nmi=
|combat range note=
|ferry range km=
|ferry range miles=
|ferry range nmi=
|ferry range note=
|endurance=10 hours (at maximum speed; with turbojet)
|ceiling m=18000
|ceiling ft=
|ceiling note=
|g limits=
|roll rate=
|glide ratio=
|climb rate ms=
|climb rate ftmin=
|climb rate note=
|time to altitude=
|sink rate ms=
|sink rate ftmin=
|sink rate note=
|lift to drag=
|wing loading kg/m2=
|wing loading lb/sqft=
|wing loading note=
|fuel consumption kg/km=
|fuel consumption lb/mi=
|power/mass=
|thrust/weight=5.8

|more performance=

|avionics=
}}

==See also==
{{aircontent
 |see also =
 |related =
 |similar aircraft =
* [[BAE Systems Mantis]]
* [[General Atomics MQ-20 Avenger]]
* [[Northrop Grumman RQ-4 Global Hawk]]
 |lists =
* [[List of unmanned aerial vehicles of China]]
* [[List of active People's Liberation Army aircraft]]
 |similar engines =
}}

==References==
{{Commons category|Guizhou Soar Dragon}}
{{reflist}}

{{PRC UAVs}}
{{Chinese Military Aircraft}}

[[Category:Guizhou aircraft|Soar Dragon]]
[[Category:Proposed aircraft of China]]
[[Category:Single-engined jet aircraft]]
[[Category:Tandem-wing aircraft]]
[[Category:Unmanned military aircraft of China]]
[[Category:High-altitude and long endurance aircraft]]