The Algerian Air Force, which is already deploying six types of drones, four of which are attacking, has reportedly placed an order for 24 WingLoong II tank fighter aircraft from the Chinese AVIC.
Deliveries are expected to begin at the end of the current year and be completed in 2022. WingLoong II has proven itself in many theatres of operations such as Egypt and Yemen. It is of the intermediate class between the CH-4 and the MQ-9 Predator.
It still has better performance than the CH-4 which has been used in Algeria for five years. For example, it takes 150 kg more armament than the CH-4 and can benefit from larger and heavier optronic balls or combine its attack load with passive loads such as jammers or transmission relays. It far exceeds the CH-4 in terms of speed, which shortens its response times by half.
The WingLoong 2 has 12 to 16 take-off points and can fire smooth or guided bombs and anti-tank and anti-personnel missiles. It can be equipped with BA-7 Air-Sol missile, YZ-212 laser-guided bomb, YZ-102A anti-personnel bomb as well as 50 kg LS-6 guided bomb. In addition, it fires the new Red Arrow anti-tank missile, equivalent to the American Javlin.
The approximate price of this drone is $5 million per unit, which is seven times cheaper than its American counterpart.
