Wing Loong II
Armed MALE drone · also known as Pterodactyl II, Wing Loong 2
| Designer / manufacturer | Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) |
|---|---|
| Countries | China |
| Production | China (plant not confirmed in sources reviewed) |
| Operators | UAE (reported), Saudi Arabia (reported), Egypt (reported), Nigeria (reported), Uzbekistan (reported), Kazakhstan (reported), Pakistan (reported) |
| Estimated unit cost | $1M–$2M per aircraft, estimate (2018) · source |
| Confidence | low |
Other published estimates
| Estimate | Context | Source |
|---|---|---|
| $1M, reported (2017) | Predecessor Wing Loong reportedly sold for about 1 million each; AVIC did not disclose the Wing Loong II price | www.defensenews.com |
Reported characteristics
| Payload (kg) | up to 480 (AVIC microblog via Defense News) |
|---|---|
| Endurance (h) | up to 20 (AVIC) |
| Ceiling (m) | 9000 |
| Wingspan (m) | 20.5 |
Notes
The 1-2 million band comes from a secondary aviation site attributing it to analysts; the CSIS attribution was not verified. Operator list is from press reports, not confirmations.
Who uses it and how they obtain it
How each user obtains this type, from open sources (research note of 12 October 2026). Confidence concerns the route claim: high means several independent authoritative sources or an official source; medium, one good source with supporting coverage; low, a single source, a party's claim or visual similarity only. 'Contested' means a party denies it, sources disagree, or it rests only on a party's claim. Several primary documents were only reachable through secondary coverage. This is background on the type, not evidence about any specific incident. Explanations are in English.
| User | How obtained | Explanation and sources |
|---|---|---|
| China | own production Confidence: high | Developed and sold by AVIC (Chengdu Aircraft Design Institute); the UAE was the first export customer in 2017, and China has become the world's largest exporter of military UAVs (IDSA). Components: Not documented in the sources found. |
| United Arab Emirates | import / supply Confidence: high | IDSA reports that the UAE was the first export customer, buying five in early 2017 and receiving the first units that year. Its operation of Wing Loong II in Libya and Sudan is contested (see the LNA and RSF rows). Components: Not applicable (finished aircraft). |
| Libya (LNA / Haftar) | import / supply Confidence: medium contested | A Reuters-based report (April 2026) says the UN Panel's 2017 annual report found that the UAE helped the LNA build air power, supplying the Wing Loong IIs and 'most probably' flying them, and that the fleet left Al Khadim in 2020. The UAE denies providing military support to the LNA. Components: Not applicable (finished aircraft). |
| Saudi Arabia | import / supply Confidence: medium | IDSA says Saudi Arabia has acquired at least 15 and has been reported interested in 285 more, and has used them against the Houthis; a 2016 order report was never officially confirmed. Components: Not applicable (finished aircraft). |
| Nigeria | import / supply Confidence: high | The Nigerian Air Force announced receipt of a pair of Wing Loong II in November 2020 (the first of eight reportedly ordered), and a later report mentions at least five. The fleet count is not fully settled. Components: Not applicable (finished aircraft). |
| Pakistan (reported) | not documented Confidence: low | A 2018 report said Pakistan agreed to co-produce 48 Wing Loong II, but no delivery was confirmed; IDSA lists Pakistan's confirmed Chinese armed-drone purchases as CH-4, not Wing Loong II. Components: unknown |
| Rapid Support Forces (Sudan) | import / supply Confidence: low contested | New York Times reporting (via secondary coverage) identified Wing Loong 2 drones and a ground station at Amdjarass airfield in Chad, next to a UAE-run field hospital, and US officials said the drones give the RSF intelligence; experts say they may be flown from UAE soil. The UAE denies arming the RSF and China says it has no knowledge of the drones. Components: Not applicable (finished aircraft). |
Dossiers mentioning this type
No published dossier names this type yet.
Sources
- https://www.defensenews.com/smr/unmanned-unleashed/2017/03/01/latest-generation-chinese-combat-drone-makes-maiden-flight/
- https://thediplomat.com/2017/03/china-scores-biggest-military-export-order-for-killer-drones/
- https://migflug.com/?p=33636
Cost figures are published estimates from third parties and vary widely; they are not DroneLedger assessments. Corrections: About, corrections & privacy.
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