China’s CASC Unveils Prototype of CH-7 Stealth Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle at AirShow China 2018

The China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) has unveiled a full-size prototype of its new CH-7 stealth unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) at the biennial AirShow China 2018 exhibition being held from Nov. 6-11 in Zhuhai.

The drone is developed by the China Academy of Aerospace Aerodynamics (CAAA), a division of CASC.

With a wingspan of 22m, a length of 10m and a maximum take-off weight of 13 tonnes, the CH-7 (Rainbow-7) can fly up to 13,000m metres (42,650ft) and has a top speed of 919 km/h (571mph). The drone is comparable to American X-47B drone and is capable of conductiong long-endurance reconnaissance, ground attack and air combat missions.

The manufacturer claims that the high-altitude, long-endurance (HALE) drone can stay in air for 15 hours and can carry anti-radiation missiles (ARM) and long-range precision guidance munitions (PGM).

The maiden flight of the UCAV is expected in 2019 and the mass production by 2022, according to local media reports.