China has unveiled multiple mysterious, big-ticket military equipment ahead of the Zhuhai Air Show. After the J-35A stealth combat aircraft, photographs of the new model of China’s long-awaited ‘CH-7’ stealth drone have struck the internet like lightning. 

The CH-7 is a high-altitude and long-endurance unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) developed by the state-owned China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC), which was originally unveiled at the 2018 edition of the China Air Show.

The CH-7 is a stealthy drone, and China claims that it can easily penetrate hostile airspace to conduct Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions or even armed strikes without being detected by the adversary.

A set of photos and videos of the CH-7 Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle (UCAV) in its new, never-seen-before avatar surfaced on social media on November 8. The CH-7 was photographed in a yellow paint scheme on a runway, indicating that the drone’s taxi tests may be underway. It will be displayed at the upcoming Zhuhai Air Show.

It is not clear at this point whether the drone in question is a prototype or a pre-production model. The Chinese state-owned publication Global Times reported earlier this year that the testing of the CH-7 UAV was complete, and the development was scheduled to be finished this year. 

Since the CH-7 was unveiled in 2018, it has undergone significant changes. Its design has consistently been adapted and improved for long endurance and stealth. Several iterations of the CH-7 have been produced. A CH-7 model was also displayed at the 2022 edition of the Zhuhai Air Show.

According to observers, the CH-7 photographed recently is likely its final iteration. The model is significantly bigger than the CH-7 mock-ups displayed at the previous editions of the China Air Show and features a flying-wing design.

China has not officially revealed the specifications of CH-7. However, according to open-source information, the new drone model is about 10 meters long, has a wingspan of 26 meters, a maximum take-off weight of 10,000 kilograms, a maximum speed of 926 kilometers per hour, and an endurance of up to 15 hours.

We understand that the dimensions of the newly unveiled CH-7 are larger than those of the mock-up that debuted in 2018.

Experts have highlighted some notable drone features, including the new cranked kite wing design, new wing flaps, a flat exhaust, and sharper canted wingtips. It is propelled by a single unidentified turbofan engine with an internal payload weapons bay.

Shi Wen, chief engineer of the CH series drone, previously told Global Times in 2022 that with a maximum take-off weight of 10 tons, the CH-7 could carry huge missiles. Moreover, Shi Wen noted that the drone would successfully reduce the detection range of enemy radars and continue to evade the adversary’s anti-air weapons due to its stealthy design, significantly increasing its effectiveness in information-based combat.

Chinese experts have consistently maintained that it can fly higher, detect hostile targets for longer periods, and focus more on day-and-night surveillance and reconnaissance under extremely dangerous circumstances.

The unveiling of the final variant of CH-7 is significant as it comes after China finally showcased its second stealth aircraft—the J-35A.

Much like the J-35A, which has been referred to as a clone of the US F-35 Lightning II combat aircraft by certain sections of military watchers, the CH-7 has been noted to have striking similarities in appearance with the classified US RQ-180 UAV.

Nonetheless, the development of the final CH-7 variant is in line with China’s sustained efforts to expand its inventory of long-range, low-observable drones for both ISR and attack roles. China has been working on enhancing and perfecting its stealth drone armory for quite a few years.

For instance, a CCTV report in February revealed another brand-new long-endurance stealth UAV: the SkyHawk. Moreover, China has also developed the GJ-11 Sharp Sword unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV), which is projected to be the Chinese stealth jet J-20’s ‘loyal wingman.’

China’s Drones Making It Big At Air Show 

China will display several cutting-edge drones at the upcoming Zhuhai Air Show, which starts on November 12 and runs until November 17. As the biggest biennial air show in the country, the event draws massive crowds of spectators who witness the impressive display of China’s military and commercial aircraft and other military equipment.

According to reports, the fifteenth edition of the air show will exhibit some of the country’s most cutting-edge unmanned aerial vehicles. Some combat drones of the People’s Liberation Army, including the CH series of drones that have already been unveiled in the past, will also be on exhibit at the Air Show.

Besides the CH-7, China recently unveiled a huge, jet-powered drone called Jiu Tian, or “High Sky.” This monster drone has a take-off weight of 10 tons and has four store pylons beneath each wing.

Notably, the mammoth drone seems to be equipped with a modular payload section that might launch swarms of smaller uncrewed aerial aircraft.

As per reports in Chinese state media, the Twin-tailed Scorpion B drone, upgraded with short-range takeoff capability and high-altitude flight performance, will premiere at Airshow China 2024 in Zhuhai.

In addition to this, two large transport drones, the four-engine Twin-tailed Scorpion D, which can carry 1,000 kilograms of payload, and a twin-engine model that can carry a commercial load of two tons and is suitable for plateau deployment will also be on display. 

Notably, this particular edition of Zhuhai Air Show has a dedicated drone area. Some of these drones will also carry out demonstration flights, highlighting China’s strides in manufacturing drones—the most significant and game-changing weapons of modern combat as seen in the Ukraine War.

Beijing-based Aerospace Knowledge magazine’s chief editor, Wang Ya’nan, told the Global Times earlier, “It shows that China has reached a very high level in terms of drone technologies and industrial capabilities, or there will not be many items to display on such a big show.”

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