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Air ForcesChina

CH-4A (CH-4A Rainbow)

Unmanned aerial vehicleFielded 2014Pending verification
Air ForcesCHN
Length 8.5 m
Identification silhouette. Not drawn to scale between entries.
Fact cardConfidence · Source
System
TypeUnmanned aerial vehicle
Date of introduction2014
ProliferationAt least 6 countries
ManufacturerChinese Defence Company ALIT (Aerospace Long-March International)Med[1]
CrewUnmannedMed[1]
Dimensions and weight
Length8.5 m28 ftMed[1]
Wingspan18 m59 ftMed[1]
Max takeoff weight1,300 kg2,866 lbMed[1]
Flight performance
Thrust / power1 x 100 Hp engineMed[1]
Speed435 km/h270 mph · 235 ktMed[1]
Cruise speed330 km/hMed[1]
Endurance40 hoursMed[1]
Armament and payload
Payload345 kg761 lbMed[1]
ArmamentThe CH-4A is a reconnaissance drone.Med[1]
Variants
CH-1CH-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.[1]
CH-2CH-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…[1]
CH-3CH-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.[1]
CH-3ACH-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.[1]
CH-4Externally, 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.[1]
CH-5The 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.[1]
CH-7The 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.[1]
CH-10The CH-10 is a tilt-rotor UAV.[1]
Summary

The CH-4A and CH-4B. The CH-4A is a reconnaissance drone (capable of a 3500–5000 km range and a 30- to 40-hour endurance) The Caihong-4, CH-4, is a long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) featuring a battery life of 40 hours.

Draft entry. Values come from the cited public sources and are awaiting editor verification.
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Operators
ChinaAlgeriaEgyptIraqPakistanSaudi Arabia
Sources
  1. CH-4A (CH-4A Rainbow) Chinese Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), U.S. Army TRADOC G-2 Worldwide Equipment Guide (ODIN)
    Published/updated 2026-03-20 · Tier 1 · checked 2026-10-10
Change log
  • 2026-10-10 Entry created from the Worldwide Equipment Guide (ODIN), bulk import