CASC CH-5 Rainbow

Summary

Description

The Rainbow series of unmanned aerial vehicles are produced by China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation's (CASC) China Academy of Aerospace Aerodynamics (CAAA). Development of the CH-1, a small fixed-wing reconnaissance UAV, started in 2000, marking the beginning of the Rainbow series. The CH-3, a fixed-wing unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV), first flew in 2007. The CH-5, a large UAV, conducted its maiden flight in August 2015 and its first airshow flight in July 2017. The CH-7, a stealth UCAV, was planned to make its maiden flight in 2019 and commence production from 2022. The CH-802 program began in 2007 and was completed in 2008, while the CH-803 program began in 2008 and was completed in 2011.

The CASC Rainbow series encompasses a range of unmanned aerial vehicles, each with distinct design features tailored to specific mission requirements. The CH-3 is a fixed-wing UCAV with a 70 kg payload capacity. The CH-4, visually similar to the General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper, comes in two versions: the CH-4A reconnaissance drone with a range of 3,500-5,000 km and an endurance of 30-40 hours, and the CH-4B, a mixed attack and reconnaissance system with a payload of 250 to 345 kg and provisions for six weapons. The CH-5 is a larger UAV boasting a 21-meter wingspan, a 1,000 kg payload, and an endurance of up to 60 hours. The CH-7 is a stealth UCAV with a flying wing design. The CH-6 strike variant features a 450 kg payload, while the reconnaissance variant carries a 120 kg payload. The CH-901 is designed as a UCAV. The CH-802 is a micro air vehicle featuring a cylindrical fuselage and a tractor brushless electric motor. The CH-803 features a cylindrical fuselage, canards, and forward-swept wings.

The CH-3 is capable of carrying the AR-1 air-to-ground missile and FT-9 guided bomb within its 70 kg payload. The CH-4B variant can carry a payload of 250 to 345 kg, with provisions for six weapons; available armaments include the AR-1 missile, AR-2 missile (weighing 20 kg with a 5 kg armour-piercing warhead, inertial guidance system with terminal semi-active laser (SAL) seeker, and a maximum range of 8 km), 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), and the GB-4/100 PGM. The CH-5 boasts a payload capacity of 1,000 kg and can carry up to 16 missiles at a time; it is also armed with the AR-1 and AR-2 missiles. The CH-7 can carry antiradiation missiles and standoff weapons.

The Rainbow series has seen operational use in various conflict zones, with the CH-4 playing a role in Iraq's fight against the Islamic State between 2013 and 2017. Nigeria deployed CH-3s against the Boko Haram insurgency starting in 2015, while the Tatmadaw in Myanmar reportedly utilized CH-3s for counterinsurgency operations in 2015 and 2016 during the Myanmar civil war. Furthermore, the Saudi-led coalition, including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, has deployed CH-4s against the Houthi movement in the Yemeni civil war, resulting in the loss of over twelve Saudi Arabian CH-4s by July 2022. Reports from Nigeria indicate operational weaknesses, such as infrequent use and poor quality, affecting the CH-3's effectiveness in service. Globally, the Rainbow series has been adopted by various air forces, including those of Algeria, China, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iraq, Myanmar, Nigeria, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Sudan, Turkmenistan, the United Arab Emirates, and Zambia, with Jordan being a former operator of the CH-4B.

Main Variants:

• CH-1: A small fixed-wing reconnaissance UAV whose development started in 2000.

• CH-3: A fixed-wing unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) that first flew in 2007 and can carry the AR-1 air-to-ground missile and FT-9 guided bomb with its 70 kg payload.

• CH-4A: A reconnaissance drone capable of a 3500–5000 km range and a 30- to 40-hour endurance life.

• CH-4B: A mixed attack and reconnaissance system with provisions for 6 weapons and a payload of up to 250 to 345 kg.

• CH-5: A large UAV with a wingspan of 21 meters, a payload of 1,000 kg, and an endurance life of up to 60 hours, capable of cooperating with CH-3 and CH-4 drones through a shared data link system.

Technical specifications

All operators

United Arab Emirates • China • Saudi Arabia