CASC Rainbow

Lore & Background

The Rainbow series began development in 2000 with the CH-1, a small fixed-wing reconnaissance UAV, followed by the CH-2. The CH-3, a fixed-wing unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) that first flew in 2007, introduced a 70 kg payload capability and could carry the AR-1 air-to-ground missile and FT-9 guided bomb. The CH-4, externally similar to the General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper but lacking the ventral fin, appeared in two versions: the reconnaissance-oriented CH-4A and the mixed attack/reconnaissance CH-4B, which can carry up to six weapons with a payload of 250–345 kg. A CASC factory in Myanmar produces the CH-4 under license.

The CH-5, a larger UAV with a 21-meter wingspan and 1,000 kg payload, conducted its maiden flight in August 2015 and made its first airshow flight in July 2017. It can carry up to 16 missiles and cooperate with CH-3 and CH-4 drones via a shared data link. Chinese officials claimed the CH-5 was similar in performance to the US MQ-9 Reaper but at less than half the price. The CH-7, a stealth flying-wing UCAV similar to the X-47B, was planned to make its maiden flight in 2019 and commence production from 2022; a live airframe was spotted in 2024. The CH-6, a large UAV with a maximum takeoff weight of 7,800 kg, was in development in 2021. Smaller models include the hand-launched CH-802 MAV and the catapult-launched CH-803.

Reader's Guide

The CASC Rainbow series has established itself as a significant player in the global UAV market, particularly for nations seeking cost-effective alternatives to Western systems. The CH-4, often compared to the MQ-9 Reaper, has seen extensive combat use: Iraq employed CH-4s against the Islamic State during the 2013–2017 war; the Saudi-led coalition deployed CH-4s against the Houthi movement in Yemen, though over twelve Saudi Arabian CH-4s were lost by July 2022. Nigeria used CH-3s against Boko Haram in 2015, and Myanmar's Tatmadaw reportedly used CH-3s for counterinsurgency in 2015–2016. The series' modular design—ranging from the micro CH-802 to the stealth CH-7—demonstrates CASC's ambition to cover the full spectrum of UAV roles. The CH-5's claimed lower price point and longer endurance (60 hours versus the Reaper's 14) highlight a design philosophy prioritizing endurance over altitude, with a turbo-charged piston engine limiting its ceiling to 9 km but extending loiter time. The series' export success, including licensed production in Myanmar and influence on designs like Pakistan's Burraq and Saudi Arabia's Saqr-1, underscores its role in shaping the drone capabilities of multiple air forces.

Did You Know?

• The CH-4 is externally almost identical to the MQ-9 Reaper, but lacks the ventral fin below the V-tail.
• The CH-5 can carry up to 16 missiles at once and has an endurance of up to 60 hours.
• The CH-7 stealth UCAV has a flying-wing design similar to the X-47B and a top speed of 920 km/h.