CHINA-PLA: DRONES
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Chinese Predator-type drones are being used on two fronts in the Middle East, the first time modern, high-tech weaponry by the People's Republic has been used on the battlefield. The CH-4 (Cai Hong, or Rainbow)-4, a medium-altitude, long endurance armed drone, entered service with the People's Liberation Army Air Force in 2014. Looking very much like a MQ-9 Reaper drone, the CH-4 has similar characteristics. Built for intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance, it is also armed to permit precision-guided air strikes. With maximum payload and fuel, it can remain aloft for up to 14 hours. The CH-4 can carry 4-6 AR-1 laser guided anti-tank missiles, each capable of penetrating up to 1,000 millimeters of armored plate and hitting targets at ranges of up to 8 kilometers. The CH-4 can also carry 100 pound laser-guided bombs. An electro-optical turret incorporating an imaging infrared sensor and laser can spot and designate targets, and a synthetic aperture radar can three-dimensionally image targets and terrain on the ground. Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Iraq, and Egypt have all purchased the CH-4. Saudi Arabia and the UAE are using them in their campaign against Yemen's Houthi rebels, while Iraq has used them in action against ISIS forces operating in the country. Earlier this month, as part of an operation to retake the city, a CH-4 drone was used against an ISIS position in Ramadi.
(Comment: Use of these drones in combat will bolster China's credibility as a supplier of high-tech weapons. The Chinese Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, which produces the CH-4 drone, has improved the quality of its products and Chinese weapons likely come with fewer political strings.)
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