China is preparing to launch a heavy UAV CH-7 – an analogue of the Russian “Hunter”
Beijing is finalizing preparations for flight tests of its CH-7 reconnaissance and attack drone, also known as Rainbow-7, Chinese media reported. The drone is a conceptual analogue of Russia's S-70 Okhotnik-B heavy reconnaissance and attack drone.
Rainbow-7 could be used as a "loyal wingman" for manned fighters
– say Chinese engineers.
They note that the CH-7's flight range can reach 9792 kilometers. It can also fly to an altitude of 16 kilometers and develop a cruising speed of up to Mach 0,5.
This UAV is capable of carrying up to two tons of payload, and its total weight reaches eight tons with a wingspan of 27,3 meters.
The engine air intake is located above the fuselage (reducing the image intensifier when irradiated by ground-based multifunctional SAM radars from the lower sector of the forward hemisphere), and the engine tail nozzle has a semi-hidden design, providing cooling of the jet stream and reducing the infrared signature of the UAV.
– the developers explain.
They add that the stealth UAV can perform continuous reconnaissance missions, provide targeting information for long-range strike weapons and perform other functions.
Let us add that the Russian S-70 Okhotnik-B UAV is already being actively used in the area of the special military operation in Ukraine.
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