Satellite imagery captured on 22 June showed five WZ-7 Xiang-long ('Soaring Dragon') high-altitude, long-endurance (HALE) unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) on the ramp near production facilities at Anshun-Huangguoshu airport in China's southern Guizhou Province. The Guizhou Aviation Aircraft Corporation produces the WZ-7 there for the People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF). While four of the UAVs spotted on the image were likely in primer - a common appearance during initial flight testing - a fifth one was in apparent PLAAF colours, suggesting a forthcoming delivery.The WZ-7 made its public debut, in model form, at the 2006 Airshow China defence exhibition in Zhuhai. The 14 m-long UAV, which is powered by a turbofan engine, has an operational ceiling of 18,000 m (59,050 ft), a cruising speed of 405 kt (750 km/h), and a range of 3,780 n miles (7,000 km).
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