China has unveiled its deadliest drone so far, with the maker of the unmanned vehicle, which can carry up to 16 missiles, boasting that it would leave the US’s notorious Reaper drone “in the dust”.
The mass-production model of the CH-5 Rainbow, with its 21-metre wingspan and capacity to carry 1,000kg of equipment, made its first flight at an airshow in northern Hebei province last Friday.
Created by the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation mainly to be sold abroad, the drone could cost half the price of a Reaper, experts say. According to Chinese state media, previous drones in the Rainbow series have been sold to countries including Egypt, Burma, Iraq, Pakistan, Nigeria and Saudi Arabia.
Wang Song, an associate professor at Beihang University’s school of aeronautic science and engineering, said that the Chinese drone’s abilities were comparable to those of the US MQ-9 Reaper. Each of those Reapers, also known as Predator Bs, cost £12.9 million each in 2013, according to a US budget report.
Mr Wang, who has designed drones for the Chinese military, told the South China Morning Post that the new Rainbow “may come in at less than half the price”. He added that fewer than 20 of the drones, which can carry 16 air-to-ground missiles, would be made per year.
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State media said they could be used for “reconnaissance, surveillance, patrol, target positioning and strike missions”.
Shi Wen, chief engineer of the Rainbow drone project at the China Academy of Aerospace Aerodynamics, said the Chinese drone can fly for up to 120 hours per trip and “leaves the Predator series in the dust”.
He also boasted that other drones in the Rainbow series had already “destroyed more than 300 targets in combat”, with a 99 per cent strike rate.
The CH-5 Rainbow is reportedly easier to operate than its US equivalent. However, its maximum height is 9,000 metres, with the MQ-9 Reaper able to reach heights of between 12 to 15,000 metres. Mr Wang said that the Chinese drone’s engine was weaker than the US version’s.
After the test flight Mr Shi said: “We will conduct more trial flights and might add fine changes to meet needs of various customers. We believe it will be a success in domestic and international markets.”
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China is currently reforming its army, with the People’s Liberation Army cutting the amount of land troops to focus its resources on naval personnel and equipment.