On April 24, 2024, the Iraqi Ministry of Defense commemorated the 93rd anniversary of the Air Force’s establishment with a ceremony attended by notable figures including the Prime Minister, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, and the Minister of Defense, among other senior leaders and officers.
A significant highlight of the day was the first official public display of the Chinese-made Cai Hong-5 UAV (CH-5), along with a drill display featuring the Iraqi Air Force’s Rafale and F-16IQ fighter jets.
Operational since its maiden flight in Gansu province in August 2015, the CH-5 drone, developed by China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC), was first publicly displayed at the China International Aviation & Aerospace Exhibition in Zhuhai in 2016. According to available information, the CH-5 falls into the category of medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), with a wingspan of 21 meters and an increased payload capacity of 1,200 kilograms, which is more than that of its predecessors in the Cai Hong family, which had a capacity of 900 kilograms.
This capacity enables this drone, also known as Cai Hong 5 or Rainbow 5, to carry an array of weaponry, including up to 16 air-to-ground munitions such as the Lan Jian 7 (Blue Arrow 7) laser-guided air-to-surface missiles, TG100 laser/INS/GPS-guided bombs, and AR-1/HJ-10 anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs).
The operational range of the CH-5 extends up to 250 kilometers on a line-of-sight datalink and can be expanded to 2,000 kilometers when utilizing satellite communications, with reports indicating a possible maximum range of 6,500 km. Plans are in place to further increase this range to 10,000 kilometers. Additionally, the maximum flight duration is currently 60 hours, with an objective to increase this to 120 hours, enhancing its capacity for extended missions.
The CH-5 is powered by a 330 horsepower heavy-fuel engine (HFE) which supports up to 60 hours of flight time. This engine provides a loiter speed between 180-220 km/h and a maximum speed exceeding 300 km/h. Alternatively, a 300-horsepower gasoline engine is available, offering up to 39 hours of endurance. The UAV also operates up to a maximum altitude of 30,000 feet (approximately 9,000 meters).
Designed for both domestic and export markets, the CH-5 has garnered international interest due to its relatively lower cost compared to Western drones, with several countries reportedly expressing interest in purchasing it. Furthermore, the UAV is designed for autonomous operations using pre-programmed waypoint navigation and can coordinate with other UAVs in the CH series for joint missions. This feature facilitates easy integration of the CH-5 with existing fleets of the CH-3 and CH-4 drones, utilizing the same control systems and data links, making it a potentially attractive upgrade for existing users of Chinese UAV technology, such as Egypt and Iraq.
This latter capability aligns with China’s broader strategic objectives to enhance its indigenous military technologies and expand its influence in the international arms trade. China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) is also pursuing opportunities to export the CH-5 and potentially license its manufacturing technology to other countries, an initiative supported by expressed interest from several nations.
Source: Army Recognition