Documents
China China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC)
CH-5 (Caihong-5)
A larger, longer-range successor to the CH-4 broadly comparable in class to the MQ-9 Reaper, offering extended endurance and a heavier weapons payload for both surveillance and strike missions. Marketed heavily for export.
In service since 2018 · 5 operator countries
Compiled from public sources ·primary reference ↗ ·last verified 2026-07-02
230
km/h
6,000
km range
9,000
m ceiling
1,000
kg payload
Pricing: Unit cost not publicly disclosed
Procurement snapshot
Availability & export
Chinese state channel
State export agencies (NORINCO/CATIC); limited availability to Western-aligned states.
Channel: State export agency
Fielded & proven
Established · 5 operators
In service since 2018. Status: active.
Lifecycle cost (est.)
No public unit price to model from.
Interoperability
No standardised NATO calibre / datalink detected in public specs.
Derived guidance from public data, export regime by country of origin, lifecycle from the GAO ~30% acquisition rule. Verify eligibility, pricing and offsets with the manufacturer and your acquisition authority.
Compatible munitions & weapons
Publicly reported weapons the CH-5 (Caihong-5) can carry. Linked items have a full spec page.
Full specifications
Performance
Speed, range, altitude and engagement capability.
- Max speed
Maximum level speed. For aircraft this is at optimal altitude; for ground vehicles, top road speed. Higher means faster response and better kinematic performance.
- 230 km/h Stronger than 57% of UAVs
- Cruise speed
Sustained economical speed. Determines transit time to station.
- 180 km/h Stronger than 65% of UAVs
- Range
Maximum distance: ferry range for aircraft, operational range for vehicles, maximum engagement distance for missiles. Higher means more standoff or persistence.
- 6,000 km Top 10% of UAVs
- Service ceiling
Maximum operating altitude. Higher gives energy advantage and sensor horizon.
- 9,000 m Stronger than 66% of UAVs
- Endurance
Time on station. Critical for UAVs and patrol platforms, higher means longer persistent coverage.
- 60 h Top 1% of UAVs
Firepower
Armament, payload and guidance.
- Hardpoints
External stations for weapons and pods. More means bigger and more flexible loadouts.
- 16 Top 2% of UAVs
- Weapons payload
Maximum ordnance weight the platform can carry. Higher means more strike capacity per sortie.
- 1,000 kg Stronger than 71% of UAVs
Physical
Dimensions, weight and crew.
- Length
Overall length including gun/probe where applicable.
- 11 m
- Wingspan
Wingtip-to-wingtip span.
- 21 m
- Empty weight
Weight without fuel, ammunition or crew.
- 1,330 kg
- Combat weight
Fully loaded weight. Lighter eases transport and bridging limits; heavier often means more armor.
- 3,300 kg
- Crew
Personnel required to operate. Fewer reduces exposure; autoloaders trade a loader for mechanical complexity.
- 0
Propulsion
Engine, power and fuel.
- Engine
Powerplant model and type.
- Turboprop engine
- Propulsion type
Turbofan, turboshaft, diesel, gas turbine, solid-fuel rocket, ramjet…
- Turboprop, pusher propeller
Sensors & avionics
Radar, sensor suite and datalinks.
- Sensors
IRST, EO/IR turrets, laser designators, sniper pods, thermal sights.
- Electro-optical/infrared targeting turret, Synthetic aperture radar (optional)
- Datalink
Network connectivity: Link 16, MADL, national datalinks. Enables cooperative engagement.
- LOS datalink, SATCOM
Program
Cost, production scale and operators.
- Operator countries
Number of countries operating the system. More operators means broader support ecosystem.
- 5 Stronger than 66% of UAVs
Specifications compiled from public China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) and reference sources ↗. Published defense figures are approximations, treat comparisons as directional. Last verified 2026-07-02.
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General Atomics Aeronautical Systems MQ-9A Reaper Frequently asked questions
What is the top speed of the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) CH-5 (Caihong-5)? +
The China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) CH-5 (Caihong-5) has a maximum speed of 230 km/h.
What is the range of the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) CH-5 (Caihong-5)? +
The China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) CH-5 (Caihong-5) has a maximum range of 6,000 km.
What is the weapons payload of the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) CH-5 (Caihong-5)? +
The China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) CH-5 (Caihong-5) can carry up to 1,000 kg of weapons payload.
How much does the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) CH-5 (Caihong-5) weigh? +
The China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) CH-5 (Caihong-5) has a combat weight of 3,300 kg.
How many crew does the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) CH-5 (Caihong-5) require? +
The China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) CH-5 (Caihong-5) requires a crew of 0.
What engine does the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) CH-5 (Caihong-5) use? +
The China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) CH-5 (Caihong-5) is powered by the Turboprop engine.
What is the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) CH-5 (Caihong-5) used for? +
The China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) CH-5 (Caihong-5) is a uav / drone typically used for isr, close air support.
How many countries operate the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) CH-5 (Caihong-5)? +
The China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) CH-5 (Caihong-5) is operated by 5 countries.
How much does the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) CH-5 (Caihong-5) cost? +
China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) CH-5 (Caihong-5): Unit cost not publicly disclosed. Defense program costs are rarely fully public and vary by contract and configuration.
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