CH-6 Rainbow
CASC's CH-6 Rainbow is a new-generation twin-engine MALE/HALE with dual turbofan (high-speed, high-altitude) and turboprop (maximum ISR/ASW endurance) variants. 10 hardpoints, up to 450 kg payload and an anti-submarine configuration make it China's most ambitious UAV.
CH-6 Rainbow
CASC's CH-6 Rainbow is a new-generation twin-engine MALE/HALE with dual turbofan (high-speed, high-altitude) and turboprop (maximum ISR/ASW endurance) variants. 10 hardpoints, up to 450 kg payload and an anti-submarine configuration make it China's most ambitious UAV.
Community
Data trust
- Reliability
- Unverified
- Sources
- Sources pending review
Identity
- Designation
- CH-6 Rainbow
- Alias
- Cai Hong-6
- Manufacturer
- China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC)
- Country
- China
- Year
- 2022
- Category
- UCAV (Combat UAV)
- Class
- HALE (High-altitude / long-endurance)
- Status
- In sviluppo
Performance
- Range
- 4500 km
- Endurance
- 20 h (variante turbofan) / 21 h (turboprop ISR)
- Top speed
- 700 km/h
- Service ceiling
- 15,000 m
- Propulsion
- Turbofan WS-500 (UCAV) / Turboelica (ISR)
Physical characteristics
- MTOW
- 7800 kg
- Payload
- 450 kg
- Hardpoints
- 10
- Weapons
- Stiva interna + piloni: AR-1, AR-2, FT-7/9, sonobuoy ASW
Onboard systems
- Sensors
- SAR, EO/IR, SIGINT, ELINT, ASW (variante navale)
- Datalink / control
- SATCOM Ku/Ka-band, controllo multi-drone
- Launch
- Decollo da pista
- Recovery
- Atterraggio su pista
Tags
Main operators
History
Unveiled at Airshow China 2022 in Zhuhai, it made its confirmed first flight in 2023. High-mounted twin-engine configuration (similar to the MQ-9B SeaGuardian) with internal weapons bay.
Developed for anti-submarine missions, extended maritime surveillance and deep strike, it is a candidate for the PLA Navy program for UAVs embarked on Type 003 and Type 004 carriers.