China's CH-7 stealth UAV causes surprise when officially launched

The CH-7 stealth UAV was officially launched at the Zhuhai Airshow and attracted special attention from the press.

China's CH-7 stealth UAV causes surprise when officially launched

Friday, November 15, 2024 14:02 PM (GMT+7)

The CH-7 stealth UAV was officially launched at the Zhuhai Airshow and attracted special attention from the press.

China officially displayed the prototype of the CH-7 stealth UAV at the Airshow China 2024 held in Zhuhai city, this flying vehicle immediately stunned the media. According to Army Recognition.

The reason is that it is easy to see that this attack UAV has many similarities with the latest US stealth strategic bomber B-21 Raider, a fact that has caused many people to question the design origin. According to Army Recognition.

"The Chinese-made CH-7 stealth UAV is designed to perform missions at high altitudes and for long periods of time, with its main functions including reconnaissance, information gathering, and precision strikes on high-value targets," according to Army Recognition.

"The CH-7 is about 10 meters long, has a wingspan of over 22 meters, and its 'heart' is a single turbofan engine, giving it a cruise speed of Mach 0.5 - 0.6 and a maximum of up to Mach 0.75." According to Army Recognition.

"This special drone can operate at an altitude of up to 13,000 meters, has the ability to operate continuously for about 15 hours and a range of 2,000 kilometers," according to Army Recognition.

"The CH-7's maximum take-off weight is approximately 13,000 kg and its internal weapons bay is designed to reduce its radar signature, thereby enhancing its stealth capabilities," the specialized publication Army Recognition commented. According to Army Recognition.

American analysts see the CH-7 stealth UAV as a tool to demonstrate China's desire to create a drone revolution and integrate the vehicle into a broader military strategy, according to Army Recognition.

In addition, the CH-7 stealth UAV's striking resemblance to the B-21 Raider bomber has once again sparked debate about the origin of China's technological advances, whether Beijing has copied American technology. According to Army Recognition.

Over the years, China has been said to have pursued reverse engineering by purchasing or copying secret foreign technology, especially from the US, to speed up the development of its weapons, according to Army Recognition.

"This trend has been seen in various Chinese weapons programs, including the J-20 fifth-generation stealth fighter and the Y-20 heavy transport aircraft," according to Army Recognition.

"The similarities between the J-20 and Y-20 and US aircraft such as the F-22 and C-17 raise questions about the extent to which the Chinese defense industrial complex is leveraging foreign designs," the publication Army Recognition commented. According to Army Recognition.

But despite all the doubts, China denies all accusations from abroad and asserts that its defense industrial complex is strong enough to independently supply the military with high-tech products produced by the country itself, according to Army Recognition.

Western military experts cannot refute China's arguments due to lack of evidence, so they can only pursue suspicions that Beijing is adapting foreign technology to meet its own strategic needs, according to Army Recognition.

“The combination of adaptation and innovation has allowed China to rapidly close the technology gap with the West in key areas such as stealth, unmanned systems, and long-range strike capabilities,” Army Recognition concluded. According to Army Recognition.

PV (according to ANTĐ)

Source: https://danviet.vn/uav-tang-hinh-ch-7-cua-trung-quoc-gay-kinh-ngac-khi-chinh-thuc-ra-mat-2024111513562757.htm