Here is brief overview of the second book in the MODERN ARMOR Series:
COMBAT AVIATION – A Visual Survey of Tactical Air Systems.
Schedule Release: September 2026.
Where the first book in the Modern Armor Series covered the ground machines in a Brigade Combat Team – Combat Aviation is focused on the type of Aircraft, Systems and Networks that make up its Combat Aviation element.
The Combat Aviation Book starts with a detailed glossary of terms and concepts used in describing Modern Tactical Air systems along with a brief discussion of the Groups and Classes that define Unmanned Air System (UASs) and Loitering Munitions (LMs).
This is followed by a section on Combat Air Support Operations Concepts for US Army, Air Force, Marines, NATO, Russia and China. Here you find info on Air Tasking Orders, Airspace Deconfliction and Directed Energy Weapon Control, the 9 Line CAS Brief and Chinese PLAAF Drone Swarms among other things.
Then, like Modern Armor, Combat Aviation goes into technical / visual survey of approximately 60 tactical air platforms organized into these categories:
- Manned Rotary Wing Attack
- Fixed Close Air Support / Overwatch
- Tactical Air Transport and Insertion
- Unmanned Combat Aviation Vehicles (UCAVs) and Loitering Munitions.
The platforms were selected based on their influence in modern tactical air systems design. For each platform we include detailed technical characteristics, iconic graphics, development history and photo images and photorealistic art renderings.
The final chapter is devoted to air technology trends and covers subsystems like Cannons, Air to Ground Missiles and Rockets, C-UAS, EW, Navigation, Heads Up Displays and Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning.
Below is a section / example from the book.
Chengdu Wing Loong II / GJ-2 🇨🇳
China’s heavily exported equivalent to the Reaper. The Wing Loong II is a medium-altitude, long-endurance UCAV that has become one of the world’s most prolific strike-capable drones. It provides heavy-payload precision strike capabilities to nations often restricted from purchasing American systems.
Technical.
| Air Vehicle | Chengdu Wing Loong II (GJ-2) |
| Origin | China 🇨🇳 |
| IOC | 2018 |
| System Class | MALE UCAV |
| Length (ft) | 36.1 |
| Wingspan (ft) | 67.3 |
| Max Takeoff Wt (lbs) | ~9250 |
| Max Speed (knots) | 200 |
| Datalink Range (nm) | Global (SATCOM) |
| Endurance (Hours) | ~32.0 |
| Payload / Warhead (lbs) | ~1060 |
| Primary Armament / Warhead Type | AKD-10 / LS-6 Precision Bombs |
| Key Sensor / Guidance | EO/IR / Synthetic Aperture Radar |
| Propulsion / Engine Type | 1x Turboprop |
| Launch / Recovery Method | Runway |
| Notes | China’s heavily exported equivalent to the American Reaper. |
Development. Developed by Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group (CAIG), located in Sichuan province Southwestern China, the Wing Loong II is a significant upgrade over the original Wing Loong, featuring more powerful engines and increased payload. It boasts a 32-hour endurance and a maximum takeoff weight of 4,200 kg. It can carry up to 480 kg of munitions across six hardpoints, including the Blue Arrow-7 anti-tank missile and LS-6 guided bombs.
Defenses & EW. Equipped with a satellite link and a sophisticated EO/IR turret with a laser designator. The Loong II features an integrated synthetic aperture radar (SAR) to identify targets through cloud cover and smoke.
Combat. The most combat-experienced Chinese UCAV, seeing heavy action in Libya, Ethiopia, Nigeria, and Yemen. It has proven highly effective at long-range interdiction in desert and savannah environments.
Production. Hundreds built. In March 2026, China finalized a $55M factory project in Bangladesh to produce these systems locally, alongside a massive $5 billion factory deal with Saudi Arabia for the next-generation Wing Loong-3.
Cost. Highly competitive at $1 million to $2 million USD per airframe.
Status. In mass production and active service globally. It remains the primary competitor to the MQ-9 Reaper.
Top: Tail Assy AKD-10 / LS-6 Precision 50kg Bomb
Bottom: AKD-10 Components
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