CH-5 Rainbow 5 UAV flight test North of China 11607173

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Military Defense Industry Technology - CH5 drone
 
Chinese-made CH-5 Rainbow 5 UAV production model performs trial flight in North of China.
Production model of Chinese-made CH-5, also called Rainbow 5 UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) performs trial flight in north China's Hebei Province, July 14, 2017. The CH-5 was unveiled during AirShow China in November 2016.
     
Production model of Chinese-made CH-5, also called Rainbow 5 UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) performs trial flight in north China's Hebei Province, July 14, 2017. The CH-5 was unveiled during AirShow China in November 2016.
The CH-5 / Rainbow UAV performs trial flight in north China's Hebei Province, July 14, 2017. (Source picture Chinese MoD)
     
The CH-5 is a medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) UAV which can be armed with guided missile and bombs which can fly for two days without refueling within a range of 24,140 km according to the manufacturer.

The CH-5 is designed and manufactured by the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) to offer a new type of UAV able to perform air strikes at long distance. The CH-5 is build on a lightweight all-composite airframe structure which has a length of 11 m long and a wingspan of 21 m. It has a as a maximum take-off weight of 3,300 kg and can carry a 1,200 kg payload.

The CH-5 can be used to perform combat missions but also to conduct the CH-5 reconnaissance, surveillance, patrol, and target positioning, according to CASC engineers.

The CH-5 seems very similar to the design of the American-made MQ-9 Reaper, its is powered by a 330 hp single engine that provides a flight endurance of up to 60 hours and a flight speed from 180 to 220 km/hr.

China is advancing its development and employment of UAVs. According to U.S. military experts, China plans to produce upwards of 41,800 land- and sea-based unmanned systems, worth about $10.5 billion, between 2014 and 2023.
     
Production model of Chinese-made CH-5, also called Rainbow 5 UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) performs trial flight in north China's Hebei Province, July 14, 2017. The CH-5 was unveiled during AirShow China in November 2016.