Beijing says it is ready to export its brand new CH-5
drone across the world, after the UAV, which it claims has superior
tech specs to equivalent US models, was officially introduced at
the China International Aviation & Aerospace Exhibition in
Zhuhai.
The CH-5, which was keenly awaited after a video of its maiden
flight was broadcast by Chinese networks last year, "can perform
whatever operations the MQ-9 Reaper can, and is even better than
the US vehicle when it comes to flight duration and operational
efficiency," said Shi Wen, chief designer of the CH series at China
Academy of Aerospace Aerodynamics, to local media ahead of the
exhibition.
The drone has a wingspan of 21 meters – twice as big as its
predecessors in the series – and can stay in the air for 60 hours.
It has a maximum range of 6,500 km, which Shi says will soon expand
to 10,000 km and 120 hours of flight, giving it the longest range
of all hunter-killer drones. It will also carry about 1,000 kg of
equipment and up to 24 missiles.
In comparison, the MQ-9 Reaper, which has been in service since
2007, can fly for 27 hours, and has a wingspan of 20 meters (though
a bigger model with longer flight time is currently being tested).
The difference is explained by China’s choice to use a less
powerful but more fuel-efficient engine.
China says that it is ready not only to export the drone, but
also to license the technology to make it.
"Several foreign nations have expressed intentions to purchase
the CH-5, and we are in talks with them," Shi said.
According to Shi, previous CH iterations have been exported to
over 10 countries, and are currently used by Iraq, Nigeria and
Egypt.
"Another advantage is that the CH-5 is capable of making a joint
strike together with its predecessors, the CH-3 and CH-4, because
they can share the same data link and control system. Therefore, it
is very easy for current users of the CH-3 and CH-4 to introduce
and integrate the CH-5 into their drone network," Shi boasted.
Shi said that the drone will suit all countries fighting
"terrorists" across the Middle East, but said that China was not
just planning to flood developing countries with cheaper
knock-offs, but to become technological leaders in the
rapidly-growing industry.
"We may be a little inexpensive, but we do win by our
reliability, not our lower price," Shi said.