CASC Rainbow#Variants

{{Short description|Chinese unmanned aerial vehicle series}}

File:CH-5 at Airshow China Zhuhai 2022.jpg

CASC Rainbow ({{Lang-zh|c=彩虹|p=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{{cite web |title=Pakistan receives five CH-4 UAVs from China |url=https://www.janes.com/osint-insights/defence-news/pakistan-receives-five-ch-4-uavs-from-china |website=Janes |date=27 January 2021 |access-date=4 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240714234751/https://www.janes.com/osint-insights/defence-news/pakistan-receives-five-ch-4-uavs-from-china |archive-date=14 July 2024}} and micro air vehicles (MAV). The UAVs are produced by CASC's China Academy of Aerospace Aerodynamics (CAAA).{{sfn|Wood|Stewart|2019|pp=84-85}}

Series

{{Promotional section|date=October 2022}}

=CH-1=

The CH-1 is a small fixed-wing reconnaissance UAV.{{cite web |author=Zhao Lei |title=Nation's drones are in demand |url=https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2016-04/21/content_24710359.htm |website=China Daily |date=21 April 2016 |access-date=4 December 2024}}{{better source needed |date=December 2024}} Development started in 2000.{{sfn|Wood|Stewart|2019|p=45}}

=CH-2=

The CH-2 is a small fixed-wing reconnaissance UAV.{{better source needed |date=December 2024}}

=CH-3=

The CH-3 is a fixed-wing unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV).{{cite web |title=Nigeria to get more armed UAVs from China |url=https://www.janes.com/osint-insights/defence-news/nigeria-to-get-more-armed-uavs-from-china |website=Janes |date=14 October 2020 |access-date=4 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240721102813/https://www.janes.com/osint-insights/defence-news/nigeria-to-get-more-armed-uavs-from-china |archive-date=21 July 2024}} It first flew in 2007. The CH-3 has a 70 kg payload,{{cite web |title=Is China at the Forefront of Drone Technology? |url=https://chinapower.csis.org/china-drones-unmanned-technology/ |website=Center for Strategic and International Studies |date=25 August 2020 |access-date=4 December 2024}} and can carry the AR-1 air-to-ground missile and FT-9 guided bomb.{{sfn|Barrie|Ebert|Glaese|Gady|2021|p=18}}

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.{{sfn|Barrie|Ebert|Glaese|Gady|2021|p=17}}

=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.{{cite web |url=http://military.people.com.cn/n/2012/1112/c1011-19555163-2.html |title=航展国产无人机抢先看:彩虹系列可用于战场侦察及反恐作战【2】--军事--人民网 |access-date=2013-11-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131216184827/http://military.people.com.cn/n/2012/1112/c1011-19555163-2.html |archive-date=2013-12-16 }}"Red dawn: Communist China stepping up drone deployment,"The Washington Times, March 26, 2013{{cite magazine | url = http://www.popularmechanics.com/military/a22101/chinas-ch-4b-drone-looks-awfully-familiar/ | magazine = Popular Mechanics | date = July 28, 2016 | title = China's CH-4B Drone Looks Awfully Familiar to a U.S. Drone}} 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.{{cite web |url= http://www.airforceworld.com/blog/ch4-uav-drone-missile-attack-details/ |title= CH-4 firing from high altitude |work= AirForceWorld.com |access-date= 2015-05-06 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150502100315/http://www.airforceworld.com/blog/ch4-uav-drone-missile-attack-details/ |archive-date= 2015-05-02 }}

A CASC factory in Myanmar produces the CH-4.

Saqr-1 is thought to be mostly influenced by the CH-4.{{cite web| url=http://www.chinatopix.com/articles/114144/20170514/saudi-arabia-first-domestic-long-distance-uav-fires-chinese.htm | title=Saudi Arabia's First Domestic Long-distance UAV Fires Only Chinese-made Missiles and Bombs | date=2017-05-14 | access-date=2019-11-29 }}

Specifications:{{cite web |title=China May Have Executed Large Order for CH-4 Drones

|url=https://www.defenseworld.net/news/26860/China_May_Have_Executed_Large_Order_for_CH_4_Drones#.X4vAq9tDYzQ |website=Defense World |date=29 April 2020 |access-date=18 October 2020}}

  • Length: {{convert|8.5|m|ft|abbr=on}}
  • Wing Span: {{convert|18|m|ft|abbr=on}}
  • Max Take Off Weight: {{convert|1300|kg|lbs|abbr=on}}
  • Payload: {{convert|345|kg|lbs|abbr=on}}
  • Endurance: 40 hours
  • Powerplant: 1 x 100 Hp engine
  • Maximum Speed: {{convert|235|kn|km/h}}
  • Cruise Speed: {{convert|180|kn|km/h}}
  • Communications range: >{{convert|1000|km|mi|abbr=on}} with SatCom (1,500-2,000 km for CH-4B),{{Cite web|title=Indonesian Air Force's fleet of CH-4 UAVs granted airworthiness approval|url=https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/indonesian-air-forces-fleet-of-ch-4-uavs-granted-airworthiness-approval|access-date=2021-09-03|website=Janes.com|date=2 September 2021 |language=en}} ~{{convert|150|km|mi|abbr=on}} 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),{{Cite web|url=https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/indonesia-receives-first-batch-of-chinese-made-ar-2-missiles-for-its-ch-4-uavs|title = Indonesia receives first batch of Chinese-made AR-2 missiles for its CH-4 UAVs| date=13 April 2021 }} 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.{{Cite web|url=https://drones.rusi.org/countries/saudi-arabia/|title = Saudi Arabia}}

=CH-5=

File:CH-5 at Airshow China Zhuhai 2022.jpg

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,{{Cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.com/edition/world/chinas-new-ch-5-rainbow-drone-leaves-us-reaper-in-the-dust-lrs6mwb96|title=China's new CH-5 Rainbow drone leaves US Reaper 'in the dust'|last=Fullerton|first=Jamie|date=2017-07-18|work=The Times|access-date=2017-07-18|language=en|url-access=subscription }} 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{{cite web|url=http://news.ifeng.com/a/20150830/44550011_0.shtml|title=国产最大察打一体无人机"彩虹"5号首飞成功|date=2015-08-30|website=Phoenix News|location=China|language=zh|trans-title=China's biggest success with unmanned aerial vehicle "Rainbow" on the 5th flight|access-date=2017-07-18}} at its first airshow flight (in northern Hebei province) in July 2017. 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.{{cite web|url=http://usa.chinadaily.com.cn/epaper/2016-11/01/content_27240864.htm|title=Unmanned combat drone to be exported|last=Lei|first=Zhao|date=2016-11-01|website=China Daily|access-date=2017-07-18}} 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.{{cite web|url=https://defpost.com/chinas-ch-5-drone-completes-trial-flight/|title=Production variant of China's CH-5 drone completes trial flight|last=Mathew|first=Arun|date=2017-07-16|website=defpost.com|access-date=2017-09-30|archive-date=2017-10-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171001031311/https://defpost.com/chinas-ch-5-drone-completes-trial-flight/}}

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)

File:CH-6 at Airshow China Zhuhai 2022.jpg

= 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.{{cite web |last1=Wong |first1=Kelvin | url=https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/airshow-china-2021-cascs-twin-turbofan-ch-6-armed-reconnaissance-uav-prototype-breaks-cover | title=Airshow China 2021: CASC's twin-turbofan CH-6 armed reconnaissance UAV prototype breaks cover |website=Janes |date=27 September 2021 |access-date=16 May 2022}}

=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.{{cite web|url=https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/201811/06/WS5be0e888a310eff303286bac.html|title=Stealth drone about to hit world market - Chinadaily.com.cn|website=www.chinadaily.com.cn}} It can carry antiradiation missiles and standoff weapons.{{cite web|url=https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/china-steps-up-drone-race-with-stealth-aircraft|title=China steps up drone race with stealth aircraft|date=November 10, 2018|website=The Straits Times}}{{cite tweet|number=1060779829803462656|user=writetake|title=Here's China's gen-next stealth combat aircraft #CH7 with a wingspan of 22-m and 10-m long. It has a cruise altitud... |date=November 8, 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://www.janes.com/article/84303/airshow-china-2018-casc-reveals-stealth-ucav-development|title=Airshow China 2018: CASC reveals stealth UCAV development {{pipe}} Jane's 360|website=www.janes.com}} 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. A live airframe was spotted in 2024.{{cite web |last1=Satam |first1=Parth |title=Live Model of China's CH-7 Flying Wing Stealth UCAV Revealed |url=https://theaviationist.com/2024/11/08/live-model-of-chinas-ch-7-flying-wing-stealth-ucav-revealed/ |website=The Aviationis |date=8 November 2024 |access-date=9 November 2024}}{{Cite web |last=Newdick |first=Thomas |date=2024-11-08 |title=China's Stealth CH-7 Long-Endurance Drone Emerges |url=https://www.twz.com/air/chinas-stealth-ch-7-long-endurance-drone-emerges |access-date=2024-11-13 |website=The War Zone |language=en-US}}

=CH-9=

ISR & strike UAV with 11500 km range.https://aviationweek.com/defense/aircraft-propulsion/china-unveils-ch-9-wing-loong-x-platforms-naval-applications{{Verify source|date=December 2024}}

=CH-10=

The CH-10 is a tiltrotor UAV.{{Cite web|title=China reveals CH-10 tilt-rotor drone - Headlines, features, photo and videos from ecns.cn{{!}}china{{!}}news{{!}}chinanews{{!}}ecns{{!}}cns|url=http://www.ecns.cn/m/news/military/2018-11-01/detail-ifyzmsck5340099.shtml|access-date=2021-05-10|website=www.ecns.cn}}

=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.{{cite web |url=http://military.people.com.cn/n/2012/1112/c1011-19555163-7.html |title=CH-97 |access-date=2013-11-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131216190145/http://military.people.com.cn/n/2012/1112/c1011-19555163-7.html |archive-date=2013-12-16 }}{{Cite web|url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/photo/2012-11/15/c_123955248_5.htm|title=实拍珠海航展:零距离接触中国无人机家族_图片频道_新华网|date=November 17, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121117232604/http://news.xinhuanet.com/photo/2012-11/15/c_123955248_5.htm|archive-date=2012-11-17}} The CH-91 is mainly intended for reconnaissance and surveillance missions.{{cite web | url=http://military.people.com.cn/n/2012/1112/c1011-19555163.html | title=Rainbow (CH) UAVs | access-date=2012-11-12 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130127164533/http://military.people.com.cn/n/2012/1112/c1011-19555163.html | archive-date=2013-01-27 }} It is also known as the BZK-008.

File:CH-92A Serbia.jpg]]

=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.{{Cite web|url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/photo/2012-11/15/c_123955248_6.htm|title=实拍珠海航展:零距离接触中国无人机家族_图片频道_新华网|date=November 18, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121118003857/http://news.xinhuanet.com/photo/2012-11/15/c_123955248_6.htm|archive-date=2012-11-18}}

=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.{{cite web |url=http://military.people.com.cn/n/2012/1112/c1011-19555163-8.html |title=CH-802 UAV |access-date=2013-11-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131216190147/http://military.people.com.cn/n/2012/1112/c1011-19555163-8.html |archive-date=2013-12-16 }}{{Cite web|url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/photo/2012-11/15/c_123955248_7.htm|title=实拍珠海航展:零距离接触中国无人机家族_图片频道_新华网|date=November 18, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121118003902/http://news.xinhuanet.com/photo/2012-11/15/c_123955248_7.htm|archive-date=2012-11-18}} The CH-803 is mainly intended for reconnaissance and surveillance missions. The CH-802 program began in 2007 and was completed in 2008.

Specifications:{{cite web | url=http://bbs.tiexue.net/post_4622639_1.html | title=CH-802 & 803 | access-date=2010-11-06 | archive-date=2010-11-19 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101119023823/http://bbs.tiexue.net/post_4622639_1.html | url-status=dead }}{{cite web | url=http://www.htanwang.com/productview.aspx?id=29 | title=CH-802 and 803 | access-date=2013-11-21 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131216190739/http://www.htanwang.com/productview.aspx?id=29 | archive-date=2013-12-16 }}

  • 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. The CH-803 is mainly intended for reconnaissance and surveillance missions. The CH-803 program began in 2008 and was completed in 2011.

Specifications:

  • 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.{{cite web |last1=Wong |first1=Kelvin | url=https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/airshow-china-2021-casc-unveils-ch-817-micro-surveillance-and-attack-vtol-uav | title=Airshow China 2021: CASC unveils CH-817 micro-surveillance and attack VTOL UAV |website=Janes |date=1 October 2021 |access-date=16 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211001141953/https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/airshow-china-2021-casc-unveils-ch-817-micro-surveillance-and-attack-vtol-uav |archive-date=1 October 2021}}

=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.{{cite web |url=http://military.people.com.cn/n/2012/1112/c1011-19555163-9.html |title=CH-901 |access-date=2013-11-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131216190328/http://military.people.com.cn/n/2012/1112/c1011-19555163-9.html |archive-date=2013-12-16 }} The CH-901 is designed as a UCAV.{{Cite web|url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/photo/2012-11/15/c_123955248_8.htm|title=实拍珠海航展:零距离接触中国无人机家族_图片频道_新华网|date=November 19, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121119094436/http://news.xinhuanet.com/photo/2012-11/15/c_123955248_8.htm|archive-date=2012-11-19}}

=CH-902=

Fixed-wing cylindrical UAV.{{cite web | url=http://en.people.cn/n/2014/1114/c202936-8809119-16.html | title=UAVs shown in Airshow China (16) - People's Daily Online }}

Operational history

Iraq used CH-4s against the Islamic State during the 2013-2017 war.{{cite web |last1=Marcus |first1=Jonathan |title=China helps Iraq military enter drone era |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-34510126 |date=12 October 2015 |access-date=4 December 2024}}

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

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

The Saudi-led coalition deployed CH-4s against the Houthi movement during the Yemeni civil war; the aircraft were from Saudi Arabia{{cite web|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2019/02/21/pentagon-is-scrambling-as-china-sells-the-hell-out-of-armed-drones-to-americas-allies.html|title=Pentagon is scrambling as China "sells the hell out of" armed drones to US allies|date=21 February 2019|work=CNBC}} and the United Arab Emirates.{{cite web|url=https://css.ethz.ch/content/dam/ethz/special-interest/gess/cis/center-for-securities-studies/resources/docs/ISPSW-478_Lin.pdf|title=UAE's Increasing Role in China's Security Calculus|work=ISPSW Strategy Series: Focus on Defense and International Security|first=Christina|last=Li|date=1 April 2017|quote=In Yemen, the UAE is already using China's Wing Loong drones in its campaign against al Qaeda, and recently purchased the CH-4 drones}} Over twelve Saudi Arabian CH-4s were lost by July 2022.{{cite web |last1=Winter |first1=Lucas |title=UAV Technologies Proliferating in Yemen and Saudi Arabia |url=https://fmso.tradoc.army.mil/2022/uav-technologies-proliferating-in-yemen-and-saudi-arabia/ |website=United States Army Foreign Military Studies Office |date=1 July 2022 |access-date=4 December 2024}}

Comparison

class="wikitable sortable"

|+ Comparison of major Chinese made military UAVs{{Cite web |date=29 May 2018 |title=Is China at the Forefront of Drone Technology? |url=https://chinapower.csis.org/china-drones-unmanned-technology/}}

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){{Cite web |last=Administrator |title=Wing Loong II 2 UAV MALE armed drone data pictures video {{!}} China Chinese unmanned aerial ground systems UK {{!}} Chinese China army military equipment armoured UK |url=https://www.armyrecognition.com/china_chinese_unmanned_aerial_ground_systems_uk/wing_loong_ii_2_uav_male_armed_drone_data_pictures_video_11906174.html |access-date=2022-11-13 |website=www.armyrecognition.com |language=en-gb}}

|Chengdu

| Yes, 480 kg

| 4200 kg

|Turboprop

| 370 km/h

| 32 hours / 20 hours at max speed

Wing Loong 3{{Cite web |title=Chinese defense aviation industry unveils its new Wing Loong 3 UAV at AirShow China 2022 {{!}} Defense News November 2022 Global Security army industry {{!}} Defense Security global news industry army year 2022 {{!}} Archive News year |url=https://www.armyrecognition.com/defense_news_november_2022_global_security_army_industry/chinese_defense_aviation_industry_unveils_its_new_wing_loong_3_uav_at_airshow_china_2022.html |access-date=2022-11-13 |website=www.armyrecognition.com|date=6 November 2022 }}

|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{{Cite web |title=Chinese CASIC WJ-700 UAV makes maiden flight |url=https://www.airrecognition.com/index.php/news/defense-aviation-news/2021/january/6817-chinese-casic-wj-700-uav-makes-maiden-flight.html |access-date=2022-11-13 |website=www.airrecognition.com}}

|CASIC

|Yes

|3500 kg

|Turbofan

|Unknown

|20 hours

WJ-600 A/D{{Cite web |date=2015-02-23 |title=航展新闻眼:航天科工"无人机" 高隐身 高速度 可侦察 可打击-新闻频道 {{!}} 珠海网 |url=http://www.n21.cc/xw/zh/2014-11-15/content_101944.shtml |access-date=2022-11-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150223073546/http://www.n21.cc/xw/zh/2014-11-15/content_101944.shtml |archive-date=2015-02-23 }}

|CASIC

|Yes

|Unknown

|Turbofan

|850 km/h

|5 hours

TB-001A{{Cite web |title=Three-engined variant of China's Tengden TB001 UAV makes maiden flight |url=https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/three-engined-variant-of-chinas-tengden-tb001-uav-makes-maiden-flight |access-date=2022-11-13 |website=Janes.com |date=21 January 2020 |language=en}}

|Tengdeng

|Yes, 1200 kg

|3200 kg

|Turboprop

|Unknown

|35 hours at 1000 kg payload

Operators

=Current=

;{{flag|Algeria}}

  • Algerian Air Force: CH-3 and CH-4{{sfn|The International Institute for Strategic Studies|2024|p=344}}

;{{flag|China}}

  • People's Liberation Army Ground Force: 5+ CH-4B (as of 2023);{{sfn|The International Institute for Strategic Studies|2024|p=256}} KVD002, a reconnaissance and precision strike drone based on the CH-4.{{cite web|url=https://asiatimes.com/2023/09/chinas-new-kvd002-drone-built-for-a-taiwan-war/ |title=China's new KVD002 drone built for a Taiwan war |website=Asia Times |date=25 September 2023 |first=Gabriel |last=Honrada }}

; {{flag|Democratic Republic of Congo}}

  • Congolese Air Force: 3 CH-4B (as of 2023);{{sfn|The International Institute for Strategic Studies|2024|p=486}} nine were ordered.{{cite web |last1=Bociaga |first1=Robert |title=China Sends Military Drones to DRC Amid Fears of Regional War |url=https://thediplomat.com/2023/03/china-sends-military-drones-to-drc-amid-fears-of-regional-war/ |website=The Diplomat |date=20 March 2023 |access-date=4 December 2024}}

;{{flag|Ethiopia}}

  • Ethiopian National Defense Force: CH-4{{cite magazine |url=https://foreignpolicy.com/2018/05/10/china-trump-middle-east-drone-wars/ |title=China Has Already Won the Drone Wars |magazine=Foreign Policy |date=10 May 2018}}

;{{flag|Indonesia}}

  • Indonesian Armed Forces: six CH-4Bs{{cite web|url=https://www.janes.com/article/91729/indonesia-showcases-ch-4-uavs-at-military-parade|title=Indonesia showcases CH-4 UAVs at military parade|author=Ridzwan Rahmat|publisher=Jane's Defense Weekly|website=janes.com|date=7 October 2019|access-date=2 January 2020}}

;{{flag|Iraq}}

  • Iraqi Armed Forces: 12 CH-4 (as of 2023){{sfn|The International Institute for Strategic Studies|2024|p=358}} 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.{{cite web |title=Iraq returns CH-4 UAV to service |url=https://www.janes.com/osint-insights/defence-news/air/iraq-returns-ch-4-uav-to-service |website=Janes |date=9 August 2022 |access-date=4 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240713112059/https://www.janes.com/osint-insights/defence-news/air/iraq-returns-ch-4-uav-to-service |archive-date=13 July 2024 }} The CH-5 was on order in 2024.{{cite web |last1=Binnie |first1=Jeremy |title=Iraqi Army Aviation Command identifies itself as CH-5 UAV operator |url=https://www.janes.com/osint-insights/defence-news/air/iraqi-army-aviation-command-identifies-itself-as-ch-5-uav-operator |website=Janes |date=24 April 2024 |access-date=4 December 2024 }}

;{{flag|Myanmar}}

  • Myanmar Air Force: Four CH-3 (as of 2023.){{sfn|The International Institute for Strategic Studies|2024|p=298}} According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, 12 CH-3As were procured in 2014 to 2015.{{cite web |last1=Funaiole |first1=Matthew P. |last2=Bermudez |first2=Joseph S. Jr. |last3=Kurata |first3=Katherine |title=Tatmadaw Deploys Chinese-Made UAVs |url=https://www.csis.org/analysis/tatmadaw-deploys-chinese-made-uavs |website=Center for Strategic and International Studies |date=6 May 2021 |access-date=4 December 2024}}

; {{flag|Nigeria}}

  • Nigerian Air Force: 1+ CH-3 (as of 2023.){{sfn|The International Institute for Strategic Studies|2024|p=209}} One crashed in January 2015. The UAVs were operated infrequently due to poor quality. In 2020, another eight in delivery.

; {{flag|Pakistan}}

  • Pakistan Armed Forces: 5 CH-4 (as of 2023.){{sfn|The International Institute for Strategic Studies|2024|p=302}} Received five CH-4s in 2021.

; {{flag|Saudi Arabia}}

  • Royal Saudi Air Force: CH-4 (as of 2023.){{sfn|The International Institute for Strategic Studies|2024|p=383}}

File:Sadejstvo 2020 - CH-92A VS 01.jpg CH–92A during Sadejstvo 2020 military exercise.]]

;{{flag|Serbia}}

  • Serbian Air Force and Air Defence: 6 CH-92A and 3 CH-95{{cite web|last1= Banković|first1=Živojin|title=[VIDEO] Na Batajnici prikazane kineske izviđačko-borbene bespilotne letelice CH-92A, kupljeno 6 letelica sa 18 raketa|url=https://tangosix.rs/2020/04/07/video-na-batajnici-prikazane-kineske-izvidjacko-borbene-bespilotne-letelice-ch-92a-kupljeno-6-letelica-sa-18-raketa/|website=Tango Six|date=4 July 2020 |access-date=6 July 2020|format=4 July 2020}}

; {{flag|Sudan}}

  • Sudanese Air Force: CH-3 and CH-4{{sfn|The International Institute for Strategic Studies|2024|p=522}}

; {{flag|Turkmenistan}}

  • Turkmen Air Force: CH-3A{{sfn|The International Institute for Strategic Studies|2024|p=209}}

; {{flag|United Arab Emirates}}

  • United Arab Emirates Armed Forces: CH-4

; {{flag|Zambia}}

=Former=

; {{flag|JOR|name=Jordan}}

See also

References

= Citations =

{{Reflist}}

= Sources =

{{refbegin}}

  • {{cite report |last1=Barrie |first1=Douglas |last2=Ebert |first2=Niklas |last3=Glaese |first3=Oskar |last4=Gady |first4=Franz-Stefan |date=21 December 2021 |title=Armed uninhabited aerial vehicles and the challenges of autonomy |url=https://www.iiss.org/globalassets/media-library---content--migration/files/research-papers/armed-uninhabited-aerial-vehicles-and-the-challenges-of-autonomy.pdf |publisher=The International Institute for Strategic Studies |access-date=4 December 2024 }}
  • {{Cite book |author=The International Institute for Strategic Studies |title=The Military Balance 2024 |date=13 February 2024 |publisher=Routledge |location=London |isbn=978-1-032-78004-7 }}
  • {{cite book |last1=Wood |first1=Peter |last2=Stewart |first2=Robert |date=26 September 2019 |title=China's Aviation Industry: Lumbering Forward |url=https://airuniversity.af.edu/Portals/10/CASI/documents/Research/Infrastructure/2019-08-02%20Lumbering_Forward_Aviation_Industry.pdf |publisher=United States Air Force Air University China Aerospace Studies Institute |isbn=9781082740404 |access-date=4 December 2024 }}

{{refend}}

{{PRC UAVs}}

{{Chinese Military Aircraft}}

Category:Unmanned military aircraft of China

Category:Unmanned stealth aircraft