China's latest armed reconnaissance UAV Cai Hong 5 (Rainbow 5) is ready for serial production according to China Daily report. China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) has unveiled the first prototype of CH-5 at Zhuhai Airshow China 2016, held in November 2016.

With its 20-meter wingspan, CH-5 is a medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) class UAV has a maximum take-off weight (MTOW) of 3 thousand 300 kg and a payload capacity of 1 thousand 200 kg. The UAV features three hardpoints under each wing and has electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) sensor turret with a thermal imager. The armament of the prototype was AR-1 short-range semi-active laser (SAL) guided anti-armour missiles, AR-2 SAL anti-armour missiles and a Fei Teng-9 (FT-9) precision-guided bomb. CH-5 can also cooperate with CH-3 and CH-4 UAVs utilizing a shared data link.