Aircraft & UAVs

CH-4B UAV

Also known as
  • CH-4
  • CH-4 Rainbow
  • Cai Hong 4
  • Rainbow-4

The CH-4B UAV is CASC's armed CH-4 Rainbow export drone, a Chinese MALE system with six hardpoints and a roughly 345 kg payload. Iraqi forces fielded it against the Islamic State, and Saudi-led coalition operators flew the type in Yemen; export pricing has been reported around US$2 million to US$4 million.

CH-4B UAV, Medium-altitude long-endurance armed reconnaissance UAV, Aircraft & UAVs
Image source: Wikimedia Commons CH-4B UAV Indonesian Air Force 051024 2

Role in Conflicts

Documented Payload

Open reporting on the CH-4B and the wider CH-4 family repeatedly describes a compact MALE loadout built around a modest payload and a short list of Chinese precision weapons.

TopicSource-backed detail
External stationsPopular Mechanics reported six underwing hardpoints on the CH-4B.
Documented weaponsThe Diplomat listed Blue Arrow-7 missiles, TG100 laser/INS/GPS-guided bombs, and AR-1/HJ-10 anti-tank missiles for the CH-4 family.
Payload envelopeGlobalMilitary lists a 345 kg payload, about 38 hours endurance, and about 250 km operational range.

The exact mix varied by customer and package, but the core appeal was long-endurance armed patrol with light precision weapons.

Profile / Specs

Profile

Origin
China
Type
Medium-altitude long-endurance armed reconnaissance UAV
Service note
2010s export MALE UCAV
Designer
China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC)
Designed
2010
Unit cost
Reported at about US$2 million to US$4 million per drone, depending on configuration and package
Produced
2010s-present
Number built
Not publicly confirmed

Specifications

Crew
0
Payload
About 345 kg
Hardpoints
6 underwing stations
Endurance
About 38 hours
Range
About 250 km operational range
Control
Satellite control reported up to about 1,000 km
Speed
About 435 km/h maximum speed
Maximum takeoff weight
About 1,330 kg
Armament
Blue Arrow-7 missiles, AR-1 missiles, and precision-guided bombs
Variants
  • CH-4A reconnaissance variant
  • CH-4B armed reconnaissance variant
Carried Munitions

Open-source reporting on the CH-4B's export fit names Blue Arrow-7 among the weapons it can carry.

Carried itemItem typeCarriage evidence
Blue Arrow-7 air-to-surface missile, Air-to-surface missile, MunitionsBlue Arrow-7 air-to-surface missileLaser-guided air-to-surface missile

Popular Mechanics reported the CH-4B carrying Blue Arrow-7 missiles on its six underwing hardpoints.

Sources: Popular Mechanics CH-4B drone profile

Why the loadout matters

The CH-4B combined a modest payload with long endurance, which made it useful for persistent armed patrols rather than heavy strike loads.

Sources: GlobalMilitary CH-4 Rainbow, The Diplomat killer drone export order

Timeline

CH-4B UAV Key Events

  1. First flight reported

    GlobalMilitary lists the CH-4 Rainbow's first flight in 2010, marking the start of the export MALE drone line that later included the CH-4B armed variant.

    Sources: GlobalMilitary CH-4 Rainbow

  2. Service entry

    GlobalMilitary lists the CH-4 Rainbow as introduced in 2011, indicating the type had entered export service by the early 2010s.

    Sources: GlobalMilitary CH-4 Rainbow

  3. Iraq is documented as a CH-4 customer

    BBC reported Iraq had received Chinese CH-4 drones and used them against Islamic State targets during the war.

    Sources: BBC China helps Iraq military enter drone era

  4. Satellite-control and missile firing reported

    Defense Update reported an upgraded CH-4 profile with satellite control from about 1,000 km away and live AR-1 missile firings.

    Sources: Defense Update upgraded CH-4 Rainbow

  5. Pakistan receives CH-4s

    Janes reported Pakistan had received five CH-4 UAVs from China, extending the type's export footprint beyond the Middle East.

    Sources: Janes Pakistan receives five CH-4 UAVs from China

  6. Heavy-fuel engine upgrade flies

    Aviation Week reported the CH-4's first flight with a heavy-fuel engine, aimed at greater payload, range, and operating altitude.

    Sources: Aviation Week CH-4 heavy fuel engine

Media

CH-4B UAV Images

CH-4B UAV, Medium-altitude long-endurance armed reconnaissance UAV, Aircraft & UAVs - view 1
Source: Wikimedia Commons CH-4B UAV Indonesian Air Force 051024 1
Related Weapon Systems
Predator XP, Medium-altitude long-endurance ISR remotely piloted aircraft, Aircraft & UAVsAircraft & UAVsPredator XPMedium-altitude long-endurance ISR remotely piloted aircraftPredator XP is General Atomics Aeronautical Systems' export-focused Predator-family remotely piloted aircraft for persistent overland and maritime intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions. The unarmed variant was licensed for a wider export market than armed MQ-1 Predators, with the UAE becoming the first announced customer through an International Golden Group procurement path. GA-ASI still described the UAE Armed Forces as Predator XP operators in 2023, and open-source research ties Emirati Predator XP deployment to the Yemen war.

Sources

Popular Mechanics CH-4B drone profilePublisher: Popular Mechanics | Note: Supports the CH-4B's six underwing hardpoints and Blue Arrow-7 carriage context. | Accessed: 2026-06-28BBC China helps Iraq military enter drone eraPublisher: BBC News | Note: 2013 War in Iraq: Iraqi forces used CH-4 drones against Islamic State targets in 2015. | Accessed: 2026-06-27Al Jazeera Sanaa drone crashPublisher: Al Jazeera | Note: Supports 2014 Yemen Civil War direct-use context: reports Houthi officials said they downed a Chinese-made CH4 armed spy plane belonging to the Saudi air force over Sanaa on May 23, 2022. | Accessed: 2026-07-04T2COM UAV technologies Yemen Saudi ArabiaPublisher: T2COM G2 Operational Environment Enterprise | Note: Supports 2014 Yemen Civil War direct-use context: identifies a CASC Rainbow CH-4 UCAV among Saudi UAVs claimed shot down by Houthi-led forces in late May 2022 and describes repeated Saudi CH-4 losses over Yemen. | Accessed: 2026-07-04GlobalMilitary CH-4 RainbowPublisher: GlobalMilitary.net | Note: Supports CH-4 Rainbow first flight, 2011 introduction, payload, range, speed, unit price, operator background, and CASC manufacturer attribution. | Accessed: 2026-06-27The Diplomat killer drone export orderPublisher: The Diplomat | Note: Supports the CH-4 family's documented payload families and approximate payload ceiling. | Accessed: 2026-06-27SCMP Rainbow 4 cost reportPublisher: South China Morning Post | Note: Supports reported export pricing for the Rainbow 4 / CH-4 family around US$4 million per drone. | Accessed: 2026-06-27Janes Pakistan receives five CH-4 UAVs from ChinaPublisher: Janes | Note: Supports Pakistan receiving five CH-4 UAVs in January 2021. | Accessed: 2026-06-27Aviation Week CH-4 heavy fuel enginePublisher: Aviation Week | Note: Supports the 18 August 2022 first flight of the upgraded CH-4 with a heavy-fuel engine. | Accessed: 2026-06-27Defense Update upgraded CH-4 RainbowPublisher: Defense Update | Note: Supports the CH-4's upgraded payload, satellite-control, and AR-1 firing context. | Accessed: 2026-06-27Wikimedia Commons CH-4B UAV Indonesian Air Force 051024 2Publisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports the image provenance and licensing context for the Indonesian CH-4B display image. | Accessed: 2026-06-27Wikimedia Commons CH-4B UAV Indonesian Air Force 051024 1Publisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports the image provenance and licensing context for the second Indonesian CH-4B display image. | Accessed: 2026-06-27