Aircraft & UAVs

CH-4B UAV

The CH-4B UAV is a Chinese medium-altitude long-endurance armed reconnaissance drone. Iraqi forces fielded it against the Islamic State, and Saudi-led coalition operators used the type in Yemen, where multiple aircraft were reported lost in combat.

War in Iraq (2013-2017)Iraqi government and coalition forces Yemeni Civil WarYemeni government and coalition forces

Conflict side: Iraqi government and coalition forcesYemeni government and coalition forces
Built by: China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC)
Built in: China

CH-4B UAV, Armed reconnaissance UAV, Aircraft & UAVs

Image source: Wikimedia Commons CH-4B UAV Indonesian Air Force 051024 2

Profile

Type: Armed reconnaissance UAV
Conflict side: Iraqi government and coalition forces
Origin: China
Service note: 2010s export MALE UCAV

UAV aircraft strike precision fires

Service History

In service: Exported armed UAV in service with Iraqi and Gulf operators by 2015
Used by: Iraqi Army Aviation, Saudi-led coalition
Wars: War in Iraq (2013-2017), Yemeni Civil War

Production History

Designer: China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC)
Designed: Early 2010s
Built by: China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC)
Built in: China
Unit cost: Not publicly standardized; export pricing varied by customer and package
Produced: 2010s-present
Number built: Not publicly confirmed
Variants: CH-4A reconnaissance variant, CH-4B armed reconnaissance variant

Specifications

Crew: 0
Armament: Underwing guided missiles and precision-guided bombs
Weight: Maximum takeoff weight about 1,300 to 1,350 kg
Mobility: Piston-powered MALE UAV with roughly 30-hour endurance and about 2,000 km class range
Protection: Unarmored unmanned air vehicle; survivability depends on altitude, standoff range, and route planning

Conflict Usage

War in Iraq (2013-2017): Side: Iraqi government and coalition forcesRole: Armed reconnaissance and strike UAVUAV strike precision fires
In the War in Iraq (2013-2017), Iraqi forces received CH-4 aircraft in 2015 and used them against the Islamic State.
Yemeni Civil War: Side: Yemeni government and coalition forcesRole: Coalition armed reconnaissance and strike UAVUAV strike precision fires
In the Yemeni Civil War, Saudi-led coalition CH-4 drones were documented over Yemeni battlefields and were repeatedly reported downed while carrying out hostilities.

CH-4B UAV Images

CH-4B UAV, Armed reconnaissance UAV, Aircraft & UAVs - view 1 — Source: Wikimedia Commons CH-4B UAV Indonesian Air Force 051024 2

CH-4B UAV, Armed reconnaissance UAV, Aircraft & UAVs - view 2 — Source: Wikimedia Commons CH-4B UAV Indonesian Air Force 051024 1

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Sources

RAND Shaping a Long-Term Strategy with Iraqi Army PartnersPublisher: RAND Corporation | Note: War in Iraq (2013-2017): CH-4 UAVs were delivered to Iraq in 2015 and used by Iraqi forces against the Islamic State. | Accessed: 2026-06-22 Al-Thawra Net Saudi CH-4 drone shot down by Yemeni air defenses in JawfPublisher: Al-Thawra Net | Note: Supports the Yemeni Civil War direct-use context: Saudi-led coalition CH-4 drone used by coalition forces over Jawf while carrying out hostilities. | Accessed: 2026-06-22 Yemen Press Agency Video: Yemeni air defenses shoot down CH-4 drone in AmranPublisher: Yemen Press Agency | Note: Supports the Yemeni Civil War direct-use context: a CH-4 drone belonging to the Saudi-led coalition was shot down over Amran. | Accessed: 2026-06-22 Wikimedia 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: 2026-06-22 Wikimedia 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: 2026-06-22