Iraqi Air Force has begun flying the Chinese built CH-4B armed reconnaissance unmanned aerial vehicles since its presence was first re...
Iraqi Air Force has begun flying the Chinese built CH-4B armed reconnaissance unmanned aerial vehicles since its presence was first reported in March 2015.
On Saturday, Iraqi Defense Minister Khaled Al Obeidi flew to Kut Al Hayy airbase to witness the maiden flight operations.
The CH-4B will be the first combat drone to be operated by Iraq, which will augment its surveillance and ground attack capabilities in its fight against the Islamic State.
Developed by the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC), the CH-4B is capable of carrying a maximum payload of 350 kg including weapons and surveillance system.
The surveillance systems include synthetic aperture radar and electro-optical sensors that enable day and night, all weather reconnaissance missions.
The four under wing external hard points can carry Chinese built guided air to ground missiles and bombs. It can also fire the Chinese Blue Arrow-7 anti tank missile.
The CH-4 can cruise at altitudes ranging between 5,000 to 7,000 m at a speed of 150-180 km per hour. The CH-4 can fly within a radius of 250 km, which can be extended to over thousands of km with a satellite link.
The CH-4 design closely reassemble the U.S. General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper hunter killer UAV, only difference being the lacks of ventral fin above the V-tail present on the Reaper.
The combat drone which entered Chinese service in 2013, can engage its targets from an altitude of 5000 m, effectively shielding it from anti aircraft guns, which the main ISIS anti aircraft weapon.
