Made in China, these are the specifications for Iraq’s CH-5 Rainbow combat drone

IRAK – The specifications of the Iraqi CH-5 Rainbow combat drone made in China are interesting to review. This drone made its first appearance when the Iraqi Ministry of Defense commemorated the 93rd anniversary of the founding of the Air Force on April 24 2024.

In the ceremony which was attended by important figures from Iraq, a display of various powerful military weapons was also presented. The one that has attracted the most attention is the Cai Hong-5 (CH-5) drone made in China.

Iran’s ownership of the CH-5 Rainbow is actually quite surprising. This happened because previously there was news of user dissatisfaction with the performance of its predecessor, namely the CH-4 Rainbow.

So, what are the actual specifications of the Iraqi CH-5 Rainbow combat drone? Here’s the review.

Iraqi CH-5 Rainbow Combat Drone Specifications

The CH-5 Rainbow drone is an unmanned aerial combat vehicle made in China. The development was carried out by the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC).

Quoting the Army Recognition page, Wednesday (1/5/2024), the CH-5 was first shown publicly at the China International Aviation & Aerospace Exhibition in Zhuhai in 2016. Before that, this drone had undergone its first flight in Gansu province in August 2015.

Like its predecessor, the CH-5 in its missions is capable of carrying out tasks such as intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance. It physically has a wingspan of 21 meters and a payload capacity of more than 1,000 kilograms.

This provision allows the CH-5 to carry a range of capable weapons. This includes up to 16 air-to-ground munitions, surface missiles, laser-guided bombs, as well as anti-tank guided missiles.

Turning to performance, the CH-5 has a wider operational range than its predecessor. Several reports indicate the possible maximum range of this drone is 6,500 km.

Then, the CH-5 also has a maximum flight duration of up to 60 hours. This performance is obtained thanks to the 330 hp heavy fuel engine (HFE) in the engine.

The engine also gives the CH-5 an operational speed of between 180-220 km/h. Meanwhile the maximum speed exceeds 300 km/hour.