CH-95 Rainbow

The CH-95 (Caihong-95, "Rainbow 95") is a Chinese medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) unmanned aerial vehicle built by Aerospace Times Feihong Technology Company, a subsidiary of the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC). Configured for reconnaissance and strike missions, it entered service with Serbia in 2023, the first operator outside China, and has since been documented in combat use in Sudan.

Development

Development began in 2005, with flight testing starting in 2009. The aircraft was first shown publicly in 2010 at the China International Aviation & Aerospace Exhibition in Zhuhai. It is externally similar to the smaller CH-92A but substantially larger, sharing the same layout and much of the same mission equipment.

Design

The CH-95 uses a conventional fixed-wing configuration with a V-tail, tricycle landing gear and a pusher propeller driven by an engine mounted at the empennage. Length is 9.05 m, height 2.77 m and wingspan 20.5 m. Maximum take-off weight is approximately 1,100 kg. Cruising speed is around 200 km/h with a maximum of 280 km/h, and the service ceiling is 5,000 m. Endurance is quoted at up to 20 hours, with the manufacturer stating 6 to 12 hours depending on configuration. Line-of-sight control range from the ground station is about 200 km (the manufacturer gives a 250 km line-of-sight combat radius), while satellite relay extends range to a reported 4,000 km. Take-off requires about 600 m of runway and landing about 800 m, in wheeled or automated modes. Sensor fit includes a day/night electro-optical turret, a synthetic aperture radar with ground moving target indication (SAR/GMTI), a communications relay pod and electronic warfare equipment.

Armament

Maximum external payload is approximately 200 kg, with figures of 260 kg and a manufacturer-quoted 170 kg also reported. The base version has two underwing hardpoints; upgraded configurations with four or six hardpoints have been reported. Cleared munitions include the AKD-10 laser-guided anti-armour missile (export designation BA-7 Blue Arrow 7, about 46 kg, range 5–7 km), the FT-10 guided missile (about 25 kg), 90 mm semi-active laser-guided BRM1 guided rockets with a range up to 8 km, FT-7/130 (130 kg) and FT-9/50 (50 kg) glide bombs, and GB-7/50 (50 kg) and GB-4/100 (100 kg) guided bombs.

Operational History

Serbia ordered ten CH-95s from China in 2022, following a 2020 purchase of six CH-92A armed drones; President Aleksandar Vučić confirmed the acquisition on TV Pink. The Serbian aircraft became operational in 2023 and have been displayed publicly alongside the CH-92A. In Sudan's civil war, CH-95s operated by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces have been used for surveillance and strike missions. Since mid-2025 the Sudanese Armed Forces and allied fighters have destroyed multiple RSF CH-95s, including air-to-air kills credited to Sudanese-operated Bayraktar Akıncı UAVs.

Variants

• CH-95 (base): Standard production configuration with two underwing hardpoints.
• CH-95 (upgraded): Reported configuration with four or six hardpoints for increased munition loads.