The CH-7 Rainbow is China's most advanced combat drone, a stealthy flying-wing UCAV comparable in concept to the US X-47B and European nEUROn demonstrators. Unveiled at Zhuhai Airshow 2018 and reportedly first flown in 2024, the CH-7 features an internal weapons bay carrying up to 2,000 kg of precision-guided munitions, AESA radar for autonomous target detection, and low-observable shaping designed to penetrate contested airspace. Unlike China's hugely successful CH-4 and Wing Loong export drones (used in conflicts from Libya to Yemen), the CH-7 is designed primarily for PLA use in high-end warfare scenarios β particularly a potential Taiwan contingency where it could conduct suppression of enemy air defenses (SEAD) and strike missions inside defended airspace without risking manned aircraft.
TECHNICAL SPECS
COMBAT HISTORY
First flight in 2024. In flight testing phase. Expected to enter PLA service by 2026β2027.
