US Predator not as good as China’s CH-4 drone

The People’s Liberation Army’s CH-4 unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is receiving high-profile publicity in China after being touted as being superior in all key indicators to the American MQ-1 Predator.

The CH-4, otherwise known as the Cai Hong-4 or Rainbow-4 drone, was developed by the China Academy of Aerospace Aerodynamics of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC). The drone was most recently on display at the 2014 Tianjin International UAV and Model Exhibition on Aug. 29, just days after its use in the multinational Peace Mission 2014 military exercise in Inner Mongolia featuring member nations of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

PLA Air Force spokesperson Shen Jinke said on Aug. 26 that during Peace Mission 2014 the CH-4 was “tasked with surveillance, reconnaissance, and ground attacks, [and] will play a vital role in fighting terrorism.” Feng Aiwang, commander of the exercise’s PLA Air Force battle group, later said that the CH-4 hit every one of its targets in several missile firings, with national broadcaster CCTV also airing rare footage of a missile hitting a simulated enemy vehicle.

The CH-4 has been dubbed the Chinese version of the US MQ-1 Predator developed by General Atomics, though Chinese state media is claiming that the CH-4 is superior in just about every way.

In recent television interviews, CASC researchers Chen Hongxin and Li Pingkun revealed the specifications and capabilities of the CH-4 to a wider audience, adding that the drone was first developed in 2010 and conducted its maiden flight in September 2011.

According to Chen, the CH-4 has a maximum takeoff weight of 1,330 kilograms, a maximum payload of 345kg, a service ceiling of 8,000 meters, endurance of 38 hours and a maximum range of 3,500 km. The drone’s military applications include reconnaissance, surveillance, targeting, intelligence gathering, electronic warfare missions, border patrol, island defense and anti-terrorism, while civilian applications include emergency communications, geological mapping and exploration.

Li said that the CH-4 has a long wingspan of 18 meters to give the UAV more lift, even though the length of the drone is less than 9 meters. The CH-4 is also extremely light as it is made with more than 80% composite materials, he said.

Li also revealed that the CH-4, which can launch missiles from 5,000 meters up in the air, could hit both land and sea targets with a margin of error of less than 1.5 meters. The UAV is capable of carrying four guided missiles or bombs, and up to six in emergency situations, he added.

By comparison, the MQ-1 Predator has a wingspan of 15 meters, weighs 1,020kg, has an effective maximum payload of 204 kg, a service ceiling of 7,600 meters, endurance of 24 hours and a maximum range of 1,100 kilometers.

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