{
  "id": "ch-3a",
  "name": "CH-3A",
  "aliases": [
    "Chang Hong 3A"
  ],
  "domain": "air",
  "country": "CHN",
  "category": "Reconnaissance strike unmanned aerial vehicle",
  "status": null,
  "fielded": 2013,
  "operators": [
    "CHN",
    "MMR"
  ],
  "prolif_count": 2,
  "summary": "CH-3A is the development of CH-3 and share the identical layout. Improvement of CH-3A over CH-3 includes that the maximum payload is increased to more than 100 kg, and satellite data link is also incorporated.",
  "specs": [
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Manufacturer",
      "section": "system",
      "v": "Chinese Defence Company ALIT (Aerospace Long-March International)",
      "src": [
        "weg-ch-3a"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Crew",
      "section": "system",
      "v": "Unmanned",
      "src": [
        "weg-ch-3a"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "length_m",
      "v": 6.2,
      "src": [
        "weg-ch-3a"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "width_m",
      "v": 8,
      "src": [
        "weg-ch-3a"
      ],
      "conf": "medium",
      "label": "Wingspan"
    },
    {
      "k": "height_m",
      "v": 1.5,
      "src": [
        "weg-ch-3a"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "mass_kg",
      "v": 640,
      "src": [
        "weg-ch-3a"
      ],
      "conf": "medium",
      "label": "Max takeoff weight"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Endurance",
      "section": "mobility",
      "v": "6 hours",
      "src": [
        "weg-ch-3a"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Armament",
      "section": "armament",
      "v": "Chinese multi-purpose UAV CH-3A designed to perform tasks related to the investigation, the implementation of observation flights and patrol operations.",
      "src": [
        "weg-ch-3a"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    }
  ],
  "payloads": [],
  "variants": [
    {
      "name": "CH-1",
      "text": "CH-1 is the first of the Rainbow (CH) series UAVs. The general designer was Mr. Shi Wen (石文), who is also the general designer of CH-2, the successor of CH-1, CASC PW-1, the derivative of CH-1, and CASC PW-2, the derivative of CH-2.",
      "src": [
        "weg-ch-3a"
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "CH-2",
      "text": "CH-2 is the second of the Rainbow (CH) series UAVs and is a development of the earlier CH-1, with identical twin-boom layout. As for the CH-1, propulsion is provided by a two-blade propeller driven by a pusher engine mounted at the rear end of the fuselage…",
      "src": [
        "weg-ch-3a"
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "CH-3",
      "text": "CH-3 is a fixed wing unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) of the Rainbow series. The CH-3 adopts an unusual canard layout, similar to the Jetcruzer 450 and the Rutan VariEze.",
      "src": [
        "weg-ch-3a"
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "CH-3A",
      "text": "CH-3A is the development of CH-3 and share the identical layout. Improvement of CH-3A over CH-3 includes that the maximum payload is increased to more than 100 kg, and satellite data link is also incorporated.",
      "src": [
        "weg-ch-3a"
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "CH-4",
      "text": "Externally, CH-4 looks almost identical to General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper, and the only distinct visual difference between two UAVs is that the ventral fin below the V-tail on MQ-9 is absent on CH-4. There are two versions, the CH-4A and CH-4B.",
      "src": [
        "weg-ch-3a"
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "CH-5",
      "text": "The CH-5 is the latest UCAV of the Rainbow series, with a wingspan of 21 meters, a payload of 1,000 kg, a maximum takeoff weight of over 3 tones, a service ceiling of 9 km, an endurance of up to 60 hours and a range of 10,000 km.",
      "src": [
        "weg-ch-3a"
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "CH-7",
      "text": "The CH-7 is a stealthy flying wing UCAV similar to the X-47B, with a 22m wingspan and 10m length. It can fly at 920 km/h and at an altitude of 13,000m. Endurance is about 15 hours and its operational radius is 2000 kilometers.",
      "src": [
        "weg-ch-3a"
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "CH-10",
      "text": "The CH-10 is a tilt-rotor UAV.",
      "src": [
        "weg-ch-3a"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "art": "uav",
  "image": null,
  "verified": null,
  "changelog": [
    {
      "date": "2026-10-10",
      "change": "Entry created from the Worldwide Equipment Guide (ODIN), bulk import"
    }
  ],
  "url": "https://www.defensepedia.com/systems/ch-3a.html",
  "sources": {
    "weg-ch-3a": {
      "title": "CH-3A Chinese Reconnaissance Strike Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)",
      "publisher": "U.S. Army TRADOC G-2 Worldwide Equipment Guide (ODIN)",
      "url": "https://odin.t2com.army.mil/WEG/Asset/CH-3A_Chinese_Reconnaissance_Strike_Unmanned_Aerial_Vehicle",
      "published": "2026-03-20",
      "tier": 1,
      "checked": "2026-10-10"
    }
  }
}