China presents a Combat Drone with 16 Missiles
The Chinese CH-5 will compete with the American MQ-9 Reaper of General Atomics. Its current maximum range is 6,500 km, and a future upgrade will enable it to fly as far as 10,000 km
Ami Rojkes Dombe
| 01/11/2016
twitter.com/globaltimesnews
According to a report on People, China has granted an export license for the CH-5 reconnaissance/combat drone, which is believed to be one of the most powerful unmanned combat aircraft in the world.
"Several foreign nations have expressed intentions to purchase the CH-5, and we are in talks with them," said Shi Wen, chief designer of the Caihong, or Rainbow, series at the China Academy of Aerospace Aerodynamics in Beijing.
The CH-5 Drone is made of composite materials and has a wingspan of 21 meters. The drone can stay in the air for about 60 hours and operate at an altitude of up to 10 km. Its current maximum range is 6,500 km, and a future upgrade will enable it to fly as far as 10,000 km.
The CH-5 can carry 1,000 kg of equipment and weapons. It will carry 16 air-to-surface missiles when displayed at the air show, but its largest capacity is 24 missiles in a single flight, engineers at the academy said.
Compared with the prototype for the test flight, the drone's mass-production model has a more streamlined nose, and an electro-optical instrument mounted under the nose.
Shi said designers plan to develop a CH-5 that will be capable of staying in the air for up to 120 hours, with a 20,000-km range.
The China Academy of Aerospace Aerodynamics, part of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp, is China's largest military drone exporter by a number of products sold overseas. Its CH-series drones have been sold to military users in more than ten countries, he said.
Lan Wenbo, the project manager of the CH-5, said his academy is willing to transfer technologies to users, an attraction that Western suppliers do not offer.
The Chinese CH-5 will compete with the American MQ-9 Reaper of General Atomics. Its current maximum range is 6,500 km, and a future upgrade will enable it to fly as far as 10,000 km
twitter.com/globaltimesnews
According to a report on People, China has granted an export license for the CH-5 reconnaissance/combat drone, which is believed to be one of the most powerful unmanned combat aircraft in the world.
"Several foreign nations have expressed intentions to purchase the CH-5, and we are in talks with them," said Shi Wen, chief designer of the Caihong, or Rainbow, series at the China Academy of Aerospace Aerodynamics in Beijing.
The CH-5 Drone is made of composite materials and has a wingspan of 21 meters. The drone can stay in the air for about 60 hours and operate at an altitude of up to 10 km. Its current maximum range is 6,500 km, and a future upgrade will enable it to fly as far as 10,000 km.
The CH-5 can carry 1,000 kg of equipment and weapons. It will carry 16 air-to-surface missiles when displayed at the air show, but its largest capacity is 24 missiles in a single flight, engineers at the academy said.
Compared with the prototype for the test flight, the drone's mass-production model has a more streamlined nose, and an electro-optical instrument mounted under the nose.
Shi said designers plan to develop a CH-5 that will be capable of staying in the air for up to 120 hours, with a 20,000-km range.
The China Academy of Aerospace Aerodynamics, part of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp, is China's largest military drone exporter by a number of products sold overseas. Its CH-series drones have been sold to military users in more than ten countries, he said.
Lan Wenbo, the project manager of the CH-5, said his academy is willing to transfer technologies to users, an attraction that Western suppliers do not offer.
