Loong 5 Chinese Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)

The Loong 5 is a small fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) developed and manufactured by LoongUAV in China. It features vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) capabilities and is equipped with two independent power systems: one for cruise flight and another for VTOL operations. The manufacturer describes the Loong 5 as capable of performing intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance (ISR), and attack missions. According to LoongUAV, the UAV can operate in wind conditions of level 7, with wind speeds ranging from 32 to 38 mph. It has an IP54 protection rating, making it suitable for operations in temperatures from -20°C to 60°C (-4°F to 140°F). The Loong 5's airframe consists of a main fuselage pod designed to support its payload, shoulder-mounted wings, and a boom-mounted inverted V-tail. The wing structure includes port and starboard underwing fairings, each equipped with fore-and-aft electric motors—two for VTOL operations and one for cruise flight—that drive two-blade propellers. Additionally, the fuselage pod features a chin-mounted electro-optic (EO) sensor gimbal, a dorsally mounted GPS antenna, and landing supports: two at the front and one at the rear.