China testing heavyweight attack drone

China has conducted the first test flight of its largest unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to date, named as CH-5 or “Rainbow 5”, which bears more than a passing resemblance to the U.S. Reaper drone
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CAIHONG CH-5: Attack and reconnaissance drone, first flown in August 2015

Engine: Reportedly Chinese-made WJ-9 turboprop, 680hp

Surveillance: Wall-penetrating radar can detect targets behind obstaclesand inside buildings

Approx. length: 11m

Person to scale

Armament: Up to eight AR-1 laser-guided missiles, plus two FT-7 130kg guided bombs 

CH-5 wingspan same as Reaper 20m

MQ-9 REAPER Multi-mission UAV, entered service with U.S. Air Force in 2007

Engine TPE331-10 turboprop, 900hp

Armament Up to four AGM-114 Hellfire missiles, plus two 230kg guided bombs

Multi-spectral targeting system Includes cameras and infrared sensor that can capture video images

Reaper plan view
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PERFORMANCE COMPARISON  Caihong CH-5* MQ-9 Reaper

Maximum takeoff weight 3,000kg 4,760kg

Payload 900kg 1,700kg

Maximum speed 300km/h 480km/h

Range 2,000km 1,850km

Endurance More than 30 hours 18-27 hours
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Sources: Chinese media, U.S. Air Force, Global Security

*Estimated data

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