CASC CH-5 Rainbow
China (2017)
Detailing the development and operational history of the CASC CH-5 Rainbow Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle (UCAV).
Entry last updated on 1/2/2018; Authored by Staff Writer; Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com CASC CH-5 Rainbow
The CASC CH-5 Rainbow is a newer, more potent, attack addition to the existing Rainbow UAV line to emerge from China.
The CASC CH-5 Rainbow is one of the newer additions to the indigenous Chinese Rainbow line of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). The type has been developed for the Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle (UCAV) meaning it can carry (and deliver with a level of precision) munitions of various types. The CH-5 more or less follows the American MQ-9 Reaper UCAV in both its form and function.
The aircraft exhibits a straight wing mainplane configuration and seats its conventional turbocharged piston-driven engine (of about 450 horsepower output) at the rear of the fuselage driving a multi-bladed propeller unit in "pusher" fashion. The vehicle is fully integrated into the existing CH-3 and CH-4 framework due to a shared data link infrastructure. The CH-5 has a reported mission endurance window of up to sixty hours, can fly at alttiudes nearing 30,000 feet and can carry a mission payload up to 2,205lb. The structure includes a wingspan of 68.8 feet and a Maximum Take-Off Weight (MTOW) of 6,000lb.
The aircraft exhibits a straight wing mainplane configuration and seats its conventional turbocharged piston-driven engine (of about 450 horsepower output) at the rear of the fuselage driving a multi-bladed propeller unit in "pusher" fashion. The vehicle is fully integrated into the existing CH-3 and CH-4 framework due to a shared data link infrastructure. The CH-5 has a reported mission endurance window of up to sixty hours, can fly at alttiudes nearing 30,000 feet and can carry a mission payload up to 2,205lb. The structure includes a wingspan of 68.8 feet and a Maximum Take-Off Weight (MTOW) of 6,000lb.
Planned future revisions to the series will include extended loitering times, improved operational ranges and broadened support for more potent munitions options.
Saudi industry is making plans to produce the CH-5 locally for the Royal Saudi Air Force.
Saudi industry is making plans to produce the CH-5 locally for the Royal Saudi Air Force.
CASC CH-5 Rainbow Specifications
China
Year: 2017
Status: Active, In-Service
Type: Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle (UCAV)
Manufacturer(s): China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) - China
Production: 50
Supported Mission Types
Air-to-Air
Interception
Unmanned
Ground Attack
Close-Air Support
Training
Anti-Submarine
Anti-Ship
Airborne Early Warning
MEDEVAC
Electronic Warfare
Maritime/Navy
Aerial Tanker
Utility/Transport
Passenger Industry
VIP Travel
Business Travel
Search/Rescue
Recon/Scouting
Special Forces
X-Plane/Development
Crew: 0
Length: 36.75 ft (11.2 m)
Width: 68.90 ft (21.00 m)
Height: 12.47 ft (3.80 m)
Empty Weight: 4,905 lb (2,225 kg)
MTOW: 5,997 lb (2,720 kg)
Installed Power
1 x Turbocharged conventional engine driving a multi-bladed propeller unit at the rear of the fuselage in pusher arrangement.
Standard Day Performance
Maximum Speed: 298 mph (480 kph; 259 kts)
Maximum Range: 6,214 mi (10,000 km; 5,400 nm)
Service Ceiling: 29,528 ft (9,000 m; 5.59 mi)
Armament
Variable: Precision-guided drop and air-launched munitions to include bombs and missiles. Mission payload of up to 2,205lb.
Operators List
China; Saudi Arabia
Series Model Variants
• CH-5 - Base Series Designation
Supported Weapon Systems
