A larger Rainbow-series reusable MALE UAS developed for long-endurance reconnaissance, surveillance, and integrated strike missions.
Development
CASC CH-5 Rainbow was developed by China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation in People’s Republic of China as a armed-reconnaissance aircraft. The family first flew in 2015. Its recorded airframe configuration is fixed wing, with the family classified in the archive as core combat-aircraft scope.
Operational History
Operationally, CASC CH-5 Rainbow is represented primarily in the armed-reconnaissance aircraft role. The sourced variant records include service with People’s Liberation Army Air Force. The current structured record does not attach a specific conflict authority to this family; operational context remains limited to sourced service and role data. Role tags attached to the family include battlefield interdiction.
Variants and Lineage
Major variants represented in the structured record include CH-5 prototype and CH-5B production configuration.
Variants
| Designation | Type | Role | Recorded operators |
|---|---|---|---|
| CH-5 prototype | Prototype | Armed Reconnaissance | People’s Liberation Army Air Force |
| CH-5B production configuration | Production | Armed Reconnaissance | People’s Liberation Army Air Force |
Representative specifications
Configuration-specific profiles are shown separately so values from different variants are not blended into one false “standard” aircraft.
CH-5 prototype — C020 baseline technical profile
- Crew
- 0
Powerplant: 1 × single piston engine
Armament: External stations support guided missiles and precision bombs in reconnaissance-strike configurations.
Sources and further reading
Structured references supporting this aircraft family, variants, specifications, and narrative sections.
- Rainbow-5 UAV First Flight Successfully — China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation · Tier 2
- Jane's All the World's Aircraft 2023-24 — Jane's Information Group · Tier 3