China’s high-altitude, high-speed stealth drone completes 1st flight

ISTANBUL

China’s new high-altitude, high-speed, stealth long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicle, the CH-7, has successfully completed its first flight in northwest China, marking a key milestone in the program.

Also known as Caihong-7, meaning Rainbow-7, the aircraft was previously unveiled at the 15th China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition in 2024 in the southern city of Zhuhai, state-run CGTN reported Monday.

The CH-7 features an advanced flying-wing aerodynamic design with a high aspect ratio and is capable of carrying a range of high-performance mission payloads, including electro-optical and infrared systems.

Designed for long endurance, high operating altitude and fast cruising speed, the UAV is intended to support ground surveillance, data collection and other complex missions.

Future tests will focus on expanding its flight envelope and verifying the performance of onboard payload systems.