BEIJING - China's People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) has pushed forward on the development of its CH-4 "Rainbow" (Rainbow-4) unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV). The new combat drone, often compared to the U.S. General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper by observers, made its maiden debut during the Shanghai Cooperation Organization-run "Peace Mission 2014" military exercise in Inner Mongolia late last month.
Developed by the China Academy of Aerospace Aerodynamics (CAAA) and manufactured by the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC), the Rainbow 4 has an 18-meter wingspan and a 9-meter body. Although capable of being fitted with two AR-1 laser-guided missiles and two FT-5 small guided bombs, the drone was primarily designed for reconnaissance duties and has 30-hour flight endurance with a range of 3,500 kilometers.