CAIG Wing Loong II

Lore & Background

The Wing Loong II is an enlarged version of the Wing Loong I, featuring a longer body, wider wingspan, slender fuselage, V-tail, and ventral fin. It has retractable landing gear with two main wheels under the fuselage and one under the nose, and each wing has three hardpoints capable of carrying bombs, rockets, or air-to-surface missiles. A satellite communications antenna on the top front fuselage enables long-range data transmission. The Chinese military version, designated GJ-2, entered service with the People's Liberation Army Air Force in November 2018 and is distinguished by the lack of winglets.

Operationally, the Wing Loong II has been used by the United Arab Emirates to conduct airstrikes against the Government of National Accord in the Libyan civil war, with at least six reported shot down or lost as of June 2020. A BBC investigation revealed that the UAE used Wing Loong IIs to fire Chinese Blue Arrow 7 missiles at a military academy in Tripoli in January 2020, killing 26 unarmed cadets. In 2021, the Wing Loong 2H variant was deployed during the Henan floods for communication relay and ground reconnaissance. In 2024, Pakistan used Wing Loong IIs in strikes on militants within Iran, and Italy seized a Wing Loong II disguised as wind turbine parts destined for the Libyan National Army. During the 2026 Iran War, two Wing Loong IIs belonging to Saudi or Emirati forces were downed over Iran.

Reader's Guide

The Wing Loong II is significant as a widely exported Chinese medium-altitude long-endurance UAV, serving multiple operators including Algeria, Bangladesh, China, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Nigeria, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, the United Arab Emirates, and Côte d'Ivoire. Its use in conflicts such as the Libyan civil war, the Yemeni Civil War, and the Boko Haram insurgency highlights its role in modern aerial warfare. The article notes disputed claims, such as one Wing Loong II allegedly being shot down by a laser—if true, the first such event in history. The UAV's variants include the GJ-2 military version, the Wing Loong 2H for civilian emergency response, and the enlarged Wing Loong 3 capable of deploying air-to-air missiles. Its legacy is marked by both operational deployment and controversy, including a 2026 Reuters investigation reporting false transponder signals over the South China Sea, suggesting use in grey-zone operations.

Did You Know?

• The Wing Loong II prototype was first publicly presented at Airshow China in Zhuhai from 1–6 November 2016.
• The Chinese military version, GJ-2, officially entered service with the PLAAF in November 2018.
• In June 2024, Italy seized a Wing Loong II disguised as wind turbine parts that were being smuggled to the Libyan National Army.
• During the 2026 Iran War, two Wing Loong IIs were shot down over Iran, one on 2 April and another on 3 April.