China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) announced in early September that it had won an export contract for the CH-4 (Cai Hong 4, or CH-4) medium-altitude long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicle (MALE UAV) worth more than the United States. $100 million from an unnamed client.
It is understood that the order is for an additional batch of CH-4 drones from existing customers.
Qiu Haitao, deputy general manager of the Second Department of China Aerospace Long March International (ALIT), said at the signing ceremony in Beijing that the CH-4 has undertaken a wide range of tasks for users since it was introduced to China. 2016 market.
“Since then, it has continued to evolve and improve over a short period of time with user input,” Qiu added, claiming this is an attribute that drives subsequent orders.
ALIT offers two export variants: the CH-4A, which is primarily used for reconnaissance missions and has a flight endurance of 30 hours; and the strike-oriented CH-4B, which can carry a 760 lb (345 kg) weapons payload but fly The shorter time is 14 hours.
More than 30 CH-4 drones (valued at $700 million) have been exported to customers including Algeria, Iraq, Nigeria and Saudi Arabia. Recently, the Indonesian Air Force (TNI-AU) purchased an undisclosed number of CH-4B drones equipped with satellite communication systems to extend their operational range to 1,080 nautical miles (2,000 km). TNI-AU is believed to be the first air force in Southeast Asia to have an armed drone capability and received AR-2 precision-guided missiles for its CH-4B fleet in April 2021.
An electronic warfare pod, possibly for communications or signals intelligence gathering missions, was also observed, equipped with at least one of TNI-AU’s CH-4 drones.
Pakistan has received five CH-4 drones, according to the Official Import and Export (EXIM) log published by the government. The drone delivering ALIT will arrive in the South Asian country in January 2021. However, it is unclear which variant of the CH-4 Islamabad ordered, and whether the delivery was part of a larger drone order or just limited access to this drone type, possibly for testing.
User experience with the genre appears to be mixed, with Iraq stockpiling its CH-4 fleet for unknown reasons earlier around 2017. The U.S.-led coalition reported in 2019 that Iraq had at least 10 CH-4s, but only one was operational due to maintenance issues. It was then reported that the drone fleet had been grounded due to contract issues.
However, the Iraqi Ministry of Defense released a video in August showing Defense Minister Juma Enad Saadoun watching a CH-4 flight demonstration at Ballad Air Base. Sadoun revealed that they have signed contracts with manufacturers to bring them back into service in 2021, with work starting around July.
Upgraded versions of the CH-4 have also emerged in recent years, including long-range variants designed for extended maritime patrol and surveillance operations.
by Jr Ng
