TSAMTO, October 6. The Armed Forces of Morocco have acquired at least two medium-altitude UAVs of long flight duration (MALE class) "Wing Lung-2" (Wing Loong II) of the Chinese corporation AVIC (Aviation Industry Corporation of China).
As reported by Infodefensa.com, the Defense Arab agency has already published on Twitter a video of the flight of one of the received UAVs.
Recall that Rabat negotiated the purchase of an unnamed number of Wing Lung-2 armed UAVs to replace in the future the Wing Lung-1 armed with the country's Air Force, transferred from the UAE Armed Forces.
In 2020, the UAE donated four Wing Lung-1 UAVs to the Moroccan Armed Forces, which made it possible to form the core of the first squadron of armed UAVs as part of the Moroccan Air Force. In particular, they were actively used to launch airstrikes against the formations of the national liberation movement "Polisario Front", fighting for the independence of Western Sahara.
It is assumed that despite the fact that the Moroccan Armed Forces have signed a contract for the purchase of 36 Bayraktar TB2 reconnaissance and strike UAVs and have already received 2/3 of the devices, they intend to continue to adhere to the policy of diversification of suppliers of VIVT. Last month, for example, a contract was signed for the acquisition of 150 WanderB and ThunderB UAVs by the Israeli company Bluebird Aero Systems.
"Wing Lung-2" is an improved version of the Wing Lung-1 UAV and belongs to the MALE (Medium-Altitude Long-Endurance) class. The Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) presented the Wing Lung-2 concept at the Aviation Expo China in Beijing in September 2015, and the prototype of the UAV was first presented publicly at the Airshow China in Zhuhai in November 2016. Flight tests of the Wing Lung-2 began in March 2017.
The Wing Lung-2 differs from the Wing Lung-1 in its improved aerodynamic design, improved airframe, upgraded onboard systems, can carry more payload and perform long-range flights.
The maximum take–off weight of the UAV is 4200 kg, the maximum flight duration is about 32 hours, the maximum speed is 379 km/h. With a maximum external load of 480 kg (up to 12 bombs or laser-guided missiles) The UAV can fly for 20 hours. The range of the UAV in the line-of-sight zone is 200 km, but can be increased to 2000 km when using a satellite communication channel (SATCOM).
