The Cai Hong 5, the leading UAV of Chinese technology and already defined at home as the most powerful drone in the world, was unveiled to the public during the International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition, taking place in Zhuhai. According to the little information released, the UAV would be able to fly for twenty thousand km without refueling, with an estimated autonomy of 48 hours.
The CH-5 is China's largest combat drone: it also appears to be a perfect copy of the US Reaper MQ-9. According to AsiaOne, the CH-5 is capable of carrying smart bombs, missiles and newly designed radar jets. Cai Hong 5 made its first flight in August last year.
Chinese UAVs in Iraq
Last October, the Iraqis tested their first drone in battle against the Islamic State, in the province of Anbar, a Chinese-made CH-4B Rainbow. To date, the real amount of contracts signed between Baghdad and Beijing is unknown, but the Chinese should have sold, in an unknown number, both the combat version (the CH-4B) and the reconnaissance version (CH-4A) with a estimated autonomy in 40 flight hours. Chinese UAVs in Iraq should be without an electro-optical sensor and equipped with a GPS guide. The supply is known since March last year.
The Cai Hong 4
The 4 version of the Cai Hong drone, developed by the China Aerospace Technology and Science Company, has been in service with the People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) since August of the 2014. Externally identical to the General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper, except for the ventral fin below the absent tail in the CH-4, it was built in two variants: 4A and 4B. The CH-4A is a reconnaissance drone with a range of 3500 / 4000 km. The attack and reconnaissance version, on the other hand, can carry a payload of 330 kg. It is considered capable of launching air-to-ground missiles from 5.000 meters, thus beyond the effective range of most anti-aircraft guns.
Iraqi CH-4
Iraqi CH-4 are armed with AR-1 laser-guided missiles and FT-9 guided bombs. The AR-1, developed by the HJ-10, is a missile specifically designed to be transported by drones. With a weight of 45 kg (tested by ten kg), the missile reaches a maximum Mach 1.1 speed. To date, only one type of inertial / GPS type driving has been confirmed. The missile is believed to penetrate a thousand-millimeter armor. Finally, the small FT-9 bomb was specifically designed for Chinese drones. GPS / INS guide confirmed.
(Photo: Ruptly)
