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CASC Rainbow

CASC Rainbow (Chinese: 彩虹; pinyin: cǎihóng, abbreviation CH) is a series of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) marketed by China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC). The series includes multi-role medium-altitude long-endurance UAVs[1] and micro air vehicles (MAV).[2] The UAVs are produced by CASC's China Academy of Aerospace Aerodynamics (CAAA).[3]

Series

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CH-1

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The CH-1 is a small fixed-wing reconnaissance UAV.[4][better source needed] Development started in 2000.[5]

CH-2

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The CH-2 is a small fixed-wing reconnaissance UAV.[4][better source needed]

CH-3

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The CH-3 is a fixed-wing unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV).[6] It first flew in 2007. The CH-3 has a 70 kg payload,[7] and can carry the AR-1 air-to-ground missile and FT-9 guided bomb.[8]

The Pakistani NESCOM Burraq may be based on the CH-3; the Burraq is armed with the Burq missile, which may be based on the AR-1.[9]

CH-4

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The CH-4(D/E) at Airshow China Zhuhai 2022

Externally, the CH-4 looks almost identical to the General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper, with the only distinct visual difference between the two UAVs being the ventral fin below the V-tail on MQ-9 which is absent on the CH-4.[10][11][12] There are two versions, the CH-4A and CH-4B. The CH-4A is a reconnaissance drone (capable of a 3500–5000 km range and a 30- to 40-hour endurance life) while the CH-4B is a mixed attack and reconnaissance system with provisions for 6 weapons and a payload of up to 250 to 345 kg.

CH-4 is capable of firing air-to-ground missiles from an altitude of 5,000 meters (~16,400 feet), meaning the aircraft is capable of staying outside the effective range of most anti-aircraft guns. It also allows the CH-4 to be able to fire from a position that provides a wider area of view.[13]

A CASC factory in Myanmar produces the CH-4.[14]

Saqr-1 is thought to be mostly influenced by the CH-4.[15]

Specifications:[16]

  • Length: 8.5 m (28 ft)
  • Wing Span: 18 m (59 ft)
  • Max Take Off Weight: 1,300 kg (2,900 lb)
  • Payload: 345 kg (761 lb)
  • Endurance: 40 hours
  • Powerplant: 1 x 100 Hp engine
  • Maximum Speed: 235 knots (435 km/h)
  • Cruise Speed: 180 knots (330 km/h)
  • Communications range: >1,000 km (620 mi) with SatCom (1,500-2,000 km for CH-4B),[17] ~150 km (93 mi) from Ground Control Station (GCS)
  • Armaments: AR-1 missile, AR-2 missile (20 kg, 5 kg armour-piercing warhead, inertial guidance system with terminal semi-active laser (SAL) seeker, maximum range 8 km),[18] AKD-10 air-to-surface anti-tank missile, BRMI-90 90mm guided rocket, FT-7/130 130 kg glide bombs, FT-9/50 50 kg bomb, FT-10/25 25 kg bomb, GB-7/50 50 kg precision-guided munition (PGM), GB-4/100 PGM.[19]

CH-5

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CH-5H at Airshow China Zhuhai 2022

The CH-5 is a large UAV with a wingspan of 21 metres, a payload of 1,000 kg, a maximum takeoff weight of over 3 tonnes, a service ceiling of 9 km, an endurance life of up to 60 hours,[20] and a range of 10,000 km. Thanks to a shared data link system, it can cooperate with CH-3 and CH-4 drones. It conducted its maiden flight in August 2015[21] at its first airshow flight (in northern Hebei province) in July 2017.[20] The drone can carry a maximum of 16 missiles at a single time. There were also plans to extend its range up to 20,000 km.[22] Chinese officials claimed the CH-5 Rainbow was similar in performance to the US MQ-9 Reaper and "may come in at less than half the price". Compared to the Garrett TPE331 turboprop engine mounted on the Reaper, the CH-5 is equipped with an unidentified turbo-charged piston engine with less than half the horsepower. This design consideration limits the maximum altitude of the CH-5 to 9 km compared to the 12–15 km of the Reaper, but it also extends CH-5's endurance life to 60 hours compared to the Reaper's 14 hours.

A more recent engine variant, with a 300kW piston engine from Anhui Hangrui Co., will increase the service ceiling to 12 km and the endurance life to 120 hours.[23]

Armaments: AR-1 missile, AR-2 missile (20 kg, 5 kg armour-piercing warhead, inertial guidance system with terminal semi-active laser (SAL) seeker, maximum range 8 km)[18]

 
CH-6 at Airshow China Zhuhai 2022

CH-6

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The CH-6 is a large UAV with a MTOW of 7800 kg with two variants: a strike variant with an 18-hour endurance life and a 450 kg payload; a reconnaissance variant with a 21-hour endurance life and a 120 kg payload. It was in development in 2021.[24]

CH-7

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The CH-7 is a stealth, flying wing UCAV similar to the X-47B, with a 22m wingspan and a 10m length. It can fly at 920 km/h and an altitude of 13,000m. The endurance life is around 15 hours with an operational radius of 2000 km.[25] It can carry antiradiation missiles and standoff weapons.[26][27][28] According to its chief designer, "the CH-7 can intercept radar electronic signals, and simultaneously detect, verify and monitor high-value targets, such as hostile command stations, missile launch sites, and naval vessels". It was planned to make its maiden flight in 2019 and commence production from 2022.[25] A live airframe was spotted in 2024.[29][30]

CH-9

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ISR & strike UAV with 11500 km range.[31][verification needed]

CH-10

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The CH-10 is a tiltrotor UAV.[32]

CH-91

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The CH-91 is a fixed-wing UAV with a twin-boom layout and an inverted v-tail with a pair of skids acting as the landing gear. Propulsion is provided by a two-blade propeller driven by a pusher engine mounted at the rear end of the fuselage.[33][34] The CH-91 is mainly intended for reconnaissance and surveillance missions.[35] It is also known as the BZK-008.

 
CH-92A of Serbian Air Force and Air Defence

CH-92

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CH-92 is a fixed-wing UAV in the conventional V-tail layout with a tricycle landing gear. Propulsion is provided by a propeller driven by a pusher engine mounted at the empennage. The CH-92 is mainly intended for reconnaissance, surveillance, and attack missions.[35][36]

CH-802

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The CH-802 is a fixed-wing micro air vehicle (MAV) in the conventional layout with an elevated high-wing configuration and V-tail. The CH-802 has a cylindrical fuselage with propulsion being provided by a two-blade propeller driven by a tractor brushless electric motor atop the fuselage.[37][38] The CH-803 is mainly intended for reconnaissance and surveillance missions.[35] The CH-802 program began in 2007 and was completed in 2008.

Specifications:[39][40]

  • Wingspan (m): 3
  • Length (m): 1.8
  • Weight (kg): 6.5
  • Payload (kg): 1
  • Radius (km): 30
  • Normal operating altitude (km): 0.3 – 1
  • Normal radius (km): 30 – 50
  • Cruise speed (km/h): 60
  • Endurance (h): 2.5
  • Ceiling (km): 4
  • Launch: by hand

CH-803

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The CH-803 is a fixed-wing UAV with a cylindrical fuselage and canards, but without the tailplane. Propulsion is provided by a two-blade propeller driven by a tractor engine mounted in the nose. Another unique feature of the CH-803 is that it adopts a forward-swept wing.[39] The CH-803 is mainly intended for reconnaissance and surveillance missions.[35] The CH-803 program began in 2008 and was completed in 2011.

Specifications:[40]

  • Wingspan (m): 3
  • Length (m): 1.8
  • Weight (kg): 18
  • Payload (kg): 3.5
  • Radius (km): 30
  • Normal operating altitude (km): 0.5 – 1.5
  • Normal radius (km): 50 – 80
  • Cruise speed (km/h): 80 – 110
  • Endurance (h): 5
  • Ceiling (km): 3.5
  • Launch: catapult
  • Recovery: parachute

CH-817

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VTOL micro-surveillance and attack UAV with a top speed of 64.8 km/h and an endurance of 15 minutes.[2]

CH-901

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The CH-901 is a fixed-wing UAV in the conventional layout with a cylindrical fuselage and a high-wing configuration. Propulsion is provided by a two-blade propeller driven by a pusher engine mounted at the end of empennage.[41] The CH-901 is designed as a UCAV.[35][42]

CH-902

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Fixed-wing cylindrical UAV.[43]

Operational history

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Iraq used CH-4s against the Islamic State during the 2013-2017 war.[44][45]

Nigeria used CH-3s against the Boko Haram insurgency in 2015.[44]

The Tatmadaw in Myanmar reportedly used CH-3s for counterinsurgency in 2015 and 2016 during the Myanmar civil war.[14]

The Saudi-led coalition deployed CH-4s against the Houthi movement during the Yemeni civil war; the aircraft were from Saudi Arabia[46] and the United Arab Emirates.[46][47] Over twelve Saudi Arabian CH-4s were lost by July 2022.[48]

Comparison

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Comparison of major Chinese made military UAVs[49]
Model Manufacturer Armaments Takeoff weight Engine type Maximum cruise speed Operational endurance
CH-1 CASC No 220 kg Piston 140 km/h 6 hours
CH-2 CASC No 220 kg Piston 160 km/h 8 hours
CH-3 CASC Yes, 80 kg 650 kg Piston 220 km/h 12 hours
CH-4 CASC Yes, 345 kg 1330 kg Piston 180 km/h 30 hours for recon / 12 hours for strike
CH-5 CASC Yes, 1000 kg 3300 kg Turboprop 220 km/h 60 hours for recon / 30 hours with 8 AR-1 missiles
GJ-1 (Wing Loong 1) Chengdu Yes, 200 kg 1100 kg Piston 280 km/h 20 hours
GJ-2 (Wing Loong 2)[50] Chengdu Yes, 480 kg 4200 kg Turboprop 370 km/h 32 hours / 20 hours at max speed
Wing Loong 3[51] Chengdu Yes, 2300 kg 6200 kg Turboprop Unknown 40 hours
Chengdu WZ-10 Chengdu Yes, 400 kg 3200 kg Turbojet 370 km/h 32 hours
WJ-700[52] CASIC Yes 3500 kg Turbofan Unknown 20 hours
WJ-600 A/D[53] CASIC Yes Unknown Turbofan 850 km/h 5 hours
TB-001A[54] Tengdeng Yes, 1200 kg 3200 kg Turboprop Unknown 35 hours at 1000 kg payload

Operators

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Current

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  Algeria
  China
  Democratic Republic of Congo
  Ethiopia
  Indonesia
  Iraq
  • Iraqi Armed Forces: 12 CH-4 (as of 2023)[62] Deliveries started by 2015. Put into storage in 2017. In 2019, one was "fully mission capable" and the rest were grounded due to maintenance problems.[45] The CH-5 was on order in 2024.[63]
  Myanmar
  Nigeria
  • Nigerian Air Force: 1 CH-3 (as of 2023.)[65] One crashed in January 2015. The UAVs were operated infrequently due to poor quality. In 2020, another eight in delivery.[6]
  Pakistan
  Saudi Arabia
 
Serbian Air Force and Air Defence CH–92A during Sadejstvo 2020 military exercise.
  Serbia
  Sudan
  Turkmenistan
  United Arab Emirates
  • United Arab Emirates Armed Forces: CH-4 [60]
  Zambia

Former

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  Jordan

See also

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Related lists

References

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Citations

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Sources

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