{
  "id": "ch-5",
  "name": "CH-5 (Rainbow-5)",
  "aliases": [],
  "domain": "air",
  "country": "CHN",
  "category": "Unmanned aerial vehicle",
  "status": null,
  "fielded": 2015,
  "operators": [
    "CHN"
  ],
  "prolif_count": 1,
  "summary": "The CH-5 (Rainbow-5) is an unmanned aerial vehicle produced by the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp, which was unveiled for the first time to the public during Zhuhai Air Show China 2016, said Shi Wen, chief engineer of the Rainbow-5 drone.",
  "specs": [
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Manufacturer",
      "section": "system",
      "v": "China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC)",
      "src": [
        "weg-ch-5"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Crew",
      "section": "system",
      "v": "Unmanned",
      "src": [
        "weg-ch-5"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "length_m",
      "v": 9.2,
      "src": [
        "weg-ch-5"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "width_m",
      "v": 21,
      "src": [
        "weg-ch-5"
      ],
      "conf": "medium",
      "label": "Wingspan"
    },
    {
      "k": "mass_kg",
      "v": 3000,
      "src": [
        "weg-ch-5"
      ],
      "conf": "medium",
      "label": "Max takeoff weight"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Thrust / power",
      "section": "mobility",
      "v": "Compared to the Garrett TPE331 turboprop engine mounted on the Reaper, CH-5 is equipped with an unidentified turbo-charged piston engine…",
      "src": [
        "weg-ch-5"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "range_km",
      "v": 10000,
      "src": [
        "weg-ch-5"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "ceiling_m",
      "v": 9000,
      "src": [
        "weg-ch-5"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Endurance",
      "section": "mobility",
      "v": "60 hours",
      "src": [
        "weg-ch-5"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Missiles",
      "section": "armament",
      "v": "24 x missiles in a single flight",
      "src": [
        "weg-ch-5"
      ],
      "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-5"
      ]
    },
    {
      "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-5"
      ]
    },
    {
      "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-5"
      ]
    },
    {
      "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-5"
      ]
    },
    {
      "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-5"
      ]
    },
    {
      "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-5"
      ]
    },
    {
      "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-5"
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "CH-10",
      "text": "The CH-10 is a tilt-rotor UAV.",
      "src": [
        "weg-ch-5"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "art": "uav",
  "image": {
    "file": "ch-5.jpg",
    "thumb": "ch-5-thumb.jpg",
    "credit": "Infinty 0",
    "license": "CC BY-SA 4.0",
    "url": "https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:CH-5_at_Airshow_China_Zhuhai_2022.jpg",
    "title": "File:CH-5 at Airshow China Zhuhai 2022.jpg"
  },
  "verified": null,
  "changelog": [
    {
      "date": "2026-10-10",
      "change": "Entry created from the Worldwide Equipment Guide (ODIN), bulk import"
    },
    {
      "date": "2026-10-10",
      "change": "Added photo (CC BY-SA 4.0)"
    }
  ],
  "url": "https://www.defensepedia.com/systems/ch-5.html",
  "sources": {
    "weg-ch-5": {
      "title": "CH-5 (Rainbow-5) Chinese Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)",
      "publisher": "U.S. Army TRADOC G-2 Worldwide Equipment Guide (ODIN)",
      "url": "https://odin.t2com.army.mil/WEG/Asset/CH-5_Rainbow-5_Chinese_Unmanned_Aerial_Vehicle",
      "published": "2026-03-20",
      "tier": 1,
      "checked": "2026-10-10"
    }
  }
}