CASC Rainbow | Military Wiki - Fandom

CASC Rainbow (Cai Hong, abbreviated as CH) is the name of a series Chinese Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) developed by China Academy of Aerospace Aerodynamics of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC), also known as the 11th Academy of CASC,[1] or 701st Research Institute.

Contents

• 1 CH-1
• 2 CH-2
• 3 CH-3
• 4 CH-3A
• 5 CH-4
• 6 CH-5
• 7 CH-91
• 8 CH-92
• 9 CH-802
• 10 CH-803
• 11 CH-901
• 12 Operators
• 13 See also
• 14 References

CH-1[]

CH-1 is the first member of the Rainbow (CH) series UAV. The general designer was Mr. Shi Wen (石文), who is also the general designer of CH-2, the successor of CH-1, CASC PW-1, the derivative of CH-1, and CASC PW-2, the derivative of CH-2. CH-1 program first begun in 2000, and the success of CH-1 resulted in the establishment of UAV program which eventually led to other designs that followed. CH-1 is mainly intended for reconnaissance and surveillance missions.[2] Specification:[3]

• Wingspan (m): 4.4
• Length (m): 3.75
• Height (m): 0.87
• Weight (kg): 40
• Payload (kg): 4.5
• Fuel (kg): 26
• Max speed (km/h): 170
• Cruise speed (km/h): 120 – 150
• Normal radius (km): > 100
• Normal operating altitude (km): 1 – 3
• Ceiling (km): 4.6
• Max range (km): 740 @ 1 km altitude and 124 km/h speed
• Endurance (h): 6
• Rate of climb (m/s): 4.3
• Turn radius (m): 290
• g overload: - 1.5 to 3
• Launch: rocket assisted + catapult mounted on vehicle
• Recovery: parachute
• Max wind scale allowed for operation: 5

CH-2[]

CH-2 is second member of Rainbow (CH) series UAV and it is a development of earlier CH-1, with identical twin-boom layout. As with its predecessor CH-1, propulsion of CH-2 is also provided by a two-blade propeller driven by a pusher engine mounted at the rear end of the fuselage, and the UAV is launched via vehicle mounted catapult with rocketed assisted take-off.[4][5] CH-2 is mainly intended for reconnaissance and surveillance missions.[2]

CH-3[]

CH-3 is a fixed wing UCAV of the Rainbow series. CH-3 adopts the unusual canard layout, similar to the Jetcruzer 450 and the Rutan VariEze. This means that the CH-3 lacks centrally located vertical tail, but has large winglets and canards. Propulsion is provided by a three-blade propeller driven by a pusher engine mounted on empennage. The main landing wheels of the tricycle landing gear has fairing to reduce drag.[6]

In January, 2015, a CH-3 drone was reported to have crashed in the north of Nigeria.[7] It is believed the drone was involved in Nigeria's struggle against the Islamic militant group, Boko Haram.[8] China supplied the CH-3 to Nigeria government prior to 2014, along with YC-200 guided bombs and AR-1 air-to-ground missile.[9]

Specification:[6]

• Wingspan (m): 8
• Range (km): 960
• Endurance (h): 12
• Payload (kg): 60 – 80
• Ceiling (km): 4

CH-3A[]

CH-3A is the development of CH-3 and share the identical layout. Improvement of CH-3A over CH-3 includes that the maximum payload is increased to more than 100 kg, and satellite data link is also incorporated. CH3A is a multipurpose UAV which can also carry AR 1 laser guided rocket for attacking role. It is also widely rumoured that Myanmar Air Force operates them, and some images have been found, but there's no confirmation.Specification:[10]

• Payload (kg): 180 maximum
• Endurance (h): 6 with maximum payload
• Ceiling (Km): 4
• Max Range (km): 960

CH-4[]

CH-4 is the largest fixed wing UCAV of the Rainbow series (as of end of 2013).[2] Externally, CH-4 looks almost identical to General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper, and the only distinct visual difference between two UAVs is that the ventral fin below the V-tail on MQ-9 is absent on CH-4.[11][12][13] 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) 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 missile from altitude of 5,000 meters, therefore the aircraft can stay outside of effective range of most anti-aircraft guns. It also allow CH-4 to be able to fire from a position that provides wider viewing area.[14]

Vasiliy Kashin, a China specialist at Moscow's Centre for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies, said that The CH-4B UCAV has been exported to Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Iraq.[15][16]

CH-5[]

Latest UCAV of the Rainbow series with a wingspan of 21 metres, a payload of 1,000 kg, a maximum takeoff weight of over 3 tons, a service ceiling of 9 km, an endurance of up to 60 hours[17] and a range of 10,000 km. Thanks to shared data link it can cooperate with CH-3 and CH-4 drones. It conducted its maiden flight in August 2015[18][19] and its first airshow flight (in northern Hebei province) in July 2017.[17] The drone can carry 16 missiles at a single time. There were also plans to extend its range up to 20,000 km.[20] 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, CH-5 is equipped with an unidentified turbo-charged piston engine, with less than half the horse power. This choice 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 to 60 hours compared to 14 hour of the Reaper's. Future blocks of CH-5 will be able to stay in the air for up to 120 hours.[21]

CH-91[]

CH-91 is a fixed-wing UAV in twin-boom layout with inverted v-tail and a pair of skids as landing gear. Propulsion is provided by a two-blade propeller driven by a pusher engine mounted at the rear end of the fuselage.[22][23] CH-91 is mainly intended for reconnaissance and surveillance missions.[2] It's also called as BZK-008.

CH-92[]

CH-92 is a fixed-wing UAV in conventional layout with V-tail and tricycle landing gear. Propulsion is provided by a propeller driven by a pusher engine mounted at the empennage. CH-92 is mainly intended for reconnaissance and surveillance missions.[2][24]

CH-802[]

CH-802 is a fixed wing micro air vehicle (MAV) in conventional layout with elevated high-wing configuration and V-tail. CH-802 has a cylindrical fuselage and propulsion is provided by a two-blade propeller driven by a tractor brushless electric motor atop of the fuselage.[25][26] CH-803 is mainly intended for reconnaissance and surveillance missions.[2] CH-802 program begun in 2007 and was completed in 2008. Specification:[27][28]

• 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[]

CH-803 is a fixed-wing UAV with a cylindrical fuselage and canards, but without tailplane. Propulsion is provided by two-blade propeller driven by a tractor engine mounted in the nose. Another unique feature of CH-803 is that it adopts forward-swept wing.[27] CH-803 is mainly intended for reconnaissance and surveillance missions.[2] CH-803 program begun in 2008 and was completed in 2011. Specification:[28]

• 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-901[]

CH-901 is a fixed-wing UAV in conventional layout with cylindrical fuselage and high-wing configuration. Propulsion is provided by a two-blade propeller driven by a pusher engine mounted at the end of empennage.[29] CH-901 is designed as an UCAV.[2][30]

Operators[]

 Saudi Arabia

• Royal Saudi Land Force: A license to produce CH series was granted to Saudi Arabia in 2017.[31][32][33]

 Egypt

• Egyptian Air Force: CH-4B [15][16]

 Iraq

• Iraqi Army: CH-4B [34][35][36]

 Nigeria

• Nigerian Army: 2 CH-3[9][7][8]

 Turkmenistan

• Turkmen Air Force: CH-3[37]

See also[]

• List of unmanned aerial vehicles of the People's Republic of China

References[]

1. ↑ http://today.hit.edu.cn/uploadfiles/2013/7-11/%E4%B8%AD%E5%9B%BD%E8%88%AA%E5%A4%A9%E7%A7%91%E6%8A%80%E9%9B%86%E5%9B%A2%E5%85%AC%E5%8F%B8%E7%AC%AC%E5%8D%81%E4%B8%80%E7%A0%94%E7%A9%B6%E9%99%A2.pdf
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 "Rainbow (CH) UAVs". http://military.people.com.cn/n/2012/1112/c1011-19555163.html. Retrieved 2012-11-12. 
3. ↑ CH-1
4. ↑ CH-2
5. ↑ CH-2 UAV
6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "CH 3 & 3A". http://bbs.tiexue.net/post2_3164141_1.html. Retrieved 2008-11-08. 
7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 "It Seems a Chinese Missile Drone Just Crashed in Nigeria". Medium. 28 January 2015. https://medium.com/war-is-boring/whose-drone-just-crashed-in-nigeria-c8c55bdf3476. 
8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 "Did An Armed Chinese-Made Drone Just Crash in Nigeria?". Popular Science. 28 January 2015. http://www.popsci.com/did-armed-chinese-made-drone-just-crash-nigeria. 
9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 "CH-3 fighting in Nigeria". http://www.airforceworld.com/blog/ch3-uav-drone-crashed-in-nigeria/. Retrieved 2014-12-29. 
10. ↑ CH-3A
11. ↑ [1]
12. ↑ "Red dawn: Communist China stepping up drone deployment,"The Washington Times, March 26, 2013
13. ↑ "China's CH-4B Drone Looks Awfully Familiar to a U.S. Drone". Popular Mechanics. July 28, 2016. http://www.popularmechanics.com/military/a22101/chinas-ch-4b-drone-looks-awfully-familiar/. 
14. ↑ "CH-4 firing from high altitude". AirForceWorld.com. http://www.airforceworld.com/blog/ch4-uav-drone-missile-attack-details/. Retrieved 2015-05-06. 
15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 "China Again Tries To Pierce Gulf Defense Market". 6 November 2015. http://www.defensenews.com/story/defense/show-daily/dubai-air-show/2015/11/06/dubai-airshow-china-ucav-drone-market-fighter/74051236/. 
16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 "中国彩虹4B无人机在中东显威 专家却这样说" (in Chinese). http://club.mil.news.sohu.com/shilin/thread/3mb2owxcbz6. 
17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 Fullerton, Jamie (2017-07-18). "China’s new CH-5 Rainbow drone leaves US Reaper ‘in the dust’" (in en). The Times. https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/world/chinas-new-ch-5-rainbow-drone-leaves-us-reaper-in-the-dust-lrs6mwb96. 
18. ↑ "国产最大察打一体无人机"彩虹"5号首飞成功" (in Chinese). China. 2015-08-30. http://news.ifeng.com/a/20150830/44550011_0.shtml. 
19. ↑ 杨洁. "Unmanned combat drone to be exported - China - Chinadaily.com.cn". http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2016-11/01/content_27233618.htm. 
20. ↑ Lei, Zhao (2016-11-01). "Unmanned combat drone to be exported". http://usa.chinadaily.com.cn/epaper/2016-11/01/content_27240864.htm. 
21. ↑ Mathew, Arun (2017-07-16). "Production variant of China’s CH-5 drone completes trial flight". https://defpost.com/chinas-ch-5-drone-completes-trial-flight/. 
22. ↑ CH-97
23. ↑ http://news.xinhuanet.com/photo/2012-11/15/c_123955248_5.htm
24. ↑ http://news.xinhuanet.com/photo/2012-11/15/c_123955248_6.htm
25. ↑ CH-802 UAV
26. ↑ http://news.xinhuanet.com/photo/2012-11/15/c_123955248_7.htm
27. ↑ 27.0 27.1 "CH-802 & 803". http://bbs.tiexue.net/post_4622639_1.html. Retrieved 2010-11-06. 
28. ↑ 28.0 28.1 "CH-802 and 803". http://www.htanwang.com/productview.aspx?id=29. Retrieved 2013-11-21. 
29. ↑ CH-901
30. ↑ http://news.xinhuanet.com/photo/2012-11/15/c_123955248_8.htm
31. ↑ Binnie, Jeremy. "Saudi Arabia to build Chinese UAVs" (23 March 2017). http://www.janes.com/article/68975/saudi-arabia-to-build-chinese-uavs. Retrieved 21 October 2017. 
32. ↑ Knox, Patrick. "China agrees to build a giant ‘hunter-killer’ drone plant in Saudi Arabia" (28 March 2017). https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/3198251/china-agrees-to-build-a-giant-hunter-killer-drone-plant-in-saudi-arabia/. Retrieved 21 October 2017. 
33. ↑ Hawser, Anita. "China will build armed UAVs in Saudi Arabia, which is looking beyond the west for weapons." (3 April 2017). https://www.defenceprocurementinternational.com/news/air/china-to-build-uav-factory-in-saudi-arabia. Retrieved 21 October 2017. 
34. ↑ "Error: no |title= specified when using {{Cite web}}". http://www.janes.com/article/55240/iraq-unveils-ch-4-uavs. 
35. ↑ "Rainbow UAV gives Iraq new spectrum abilities". 20 October 2015. p. 21. 
36. ↑ "CH-4 drone in Iraq". http://thediplomat.com/tag/ch-4-drone-in-iraq/. 
37. ↑ http://www.janes.com/article/65098/military-parade-reveals-turkmenistan-s-new-chinese-built-uavs

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