CASC Rainbow
Chinese unmanned aerial vehicle series From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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
Summarize
Perspective
 | This section contains promotional content. (October 2022) |
CH-1
The CH-1 is a small fixed-wing reconnaissance UAV.[4][better source needed] Development started in 2000.[5]
CH-2
The CH-2 is a small fixed-wing reconnaissance UAV.[4][better source needed]
CH-3
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
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
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 300 kW 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
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
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
ISR & strike UAV with 11500 km range.[31][verification needed]
CH-10
CH-91
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-92
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
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.
- 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
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
VTOL micro-surveillance and attack UAV with a top speed of 64.8 km/h and an endurance of 15 minutes.[2]
CH-901
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
Fixed-wing cylindrical UAV.[43]
Operational history
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
| 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
Current
- Algerian Air Force: CH-3 and CH-4[55]
- People's Liberation Army Ground Force: 5+ CH-4B (as of 2023);[56] KVD002, a reconnaissance and precision strike drone based on the CH-4.[57]
- Congolese Air Force: 3 CH-4B (as of 2023);[58] nine were ordered.[59]
- Indonesian Armed Forces: six CH-4Bs[18][61][17]
- 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 Air Force: Four CH-3 (as of 2023.)[64] According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, 12 CH-3As were procured in 2014 to 2015.[14]
- 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 Armed Forces: 5 CH-4 (as of 2023.)[66] Received five CH-4s in 2021.[1]
- Royal Saudi Air Force: CH-4 (as of 2023.)[67]
- Serbian Air Force and Air Defence: 6 CH-92A and 3 CH-95[68]
- Sudanese Air Force: CH-3 and CH-4[69]
- Turkmen Air Force: CH-3A[65]
- United Arab Emirates Armed Forces: CH-4 [60]
Former
- Royal Jordanian Air Force: CH-4B (as of 2023.)[70]
See also
Related lists
References
Wikiwand - on
Seamless Wikipedia browsing. On steroids.