CASC/CAAA's largest Caihong (Rainbow) series armed MALE drone, with a 21 m wingspan, up to 60-hour endurance and 1,200 kg payload for reconnaissance and strike. Larger sibling of the CH-4.
| Country | China |
|---|---|
| Subcategory | Fixed-wing |
| Subtype | MALE UCAV |
| Role | Strike/ISR |
| Class | MALE |
| Classification | UCAV |
| Mission | ISR, strike |
| Variants | CH-5; extended-range variant |
| MTOW (kg) | 3300 |
| Operators | China, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Algeria, Pakistan |
| Frame type | Fixed-wing |
| Length (m) | 11.3 |
| Propulsion | Piston |
| Range (km) | 10000 |
| Wingspan (m) | 21 |
| Combat-proven | Unknown |
| Export status | Exported |
| Launch method | Runway takeoff |
| Autonomy level | Semi-autonomous |
| Endurance (min) | 3600 |
| Recovery method | Runway landing |
| Year introduced | 2017 |
| Max payload (kg) | 1200 |
| Standard sensors | EO/IR; SAR |
| Production status | In production |
| Service ceiling (m) | 9000 |
| Conflicts deployed in | Middle East anti-insurgent operations (reported) |