China unveils most advanced and new-generation stealth combat drone

The UAV - CH7 - was unveiled on Monday at the Air Show China 2018 in Zhuhai, South China's Guangdong Province, the state-run Global Times reported.

China has unveiled its new-generation stealth combat unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), stated to be the most advanced drone developed so far by the country, according to a media report Tuesday.

The UAV - CH7 - was unveiled on Monday at the Air Show China 2018 in Zhuhai, South China's Guangdong Province, the state-run Global Times reported.

Shi-Wen, the chief engineer and designer of China's Caihong (CH) or Rainbow UAV series claimed that "the performance of the CH7 in many areas is much better than the US-made RQ-170, and quite close to the RQ-180."

The CH7 makes China the second country, following the US, to produce high-altitude long-endurance combat UAVs with advanced penetration capabilities, Shi told the paper.

The UAV has internal weapons bays, making it capable of launching weapons, like anti-radiation missiles, air-to-ground or anti-ship missiles and long-distance precision-guided bombs, he said, adding it will be test-flown in one to two years and can be customised.

Shi said due to its high altitude, high speed, stealth capability and endurance, the CH-7 can conduct many missions under dangerous conditions, including reconnaissance, surveillance, combat support, launching missiles or guiding other weapons to strike high-value targets, Shi said.

The CH7 is 10 metres long and has a wingspan of 22-metres. It has a maximum take-off weight of 13,000 kilograms, with a cruise altitude of 10-13 kilometres, a cruising speed of 0.5-0.6 of a Mach, and can stay in flight for 15 hours, the China Academy of Aerospace Aerodynamics said in a statement to the paper.

"The CH7 can intercept radar electronic signals, and simultaneously detect, verify and monitor high-value targets, such as hostile command stations, missile launch sites and naval vessels," Shi said.

(With inputs from agencies.)