A Chinese-made CH-4 (Caihong-4 or Rainbow 4) armed reconnaissance medium-altitude, long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), developed by the China Academy of Aerospace Aerodynamics (CAAA), is pictured before a test flight in the plateau area at an airport in southwest China, 17 July 2018. China Academy of Aerospace Aerodynamics (CAAA), the flight technology development arm of defence prime China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC), is developing a new and more capable variant of its strike-capable Cai Hong 4 (Rainbow 4, or CH-4) medium-altitude, long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) under the designation of CH-4C. Shi Wen, chief designer of the Caihong, or Rainbow, series at the China Academy of Aerospace Aerodynamics in Beijing, said it is widely believed among engineers at the academy that civilian users will buy more unmanned aircraft than will the military. The senior designer said his academy plans to develop a variant of the CH-4 that will be suitable for deployment on plateaus to conduct both military and civilian tasks. He said this plateau model will have a new engine, modified wings and reinforced landing gear.
