China to Display New Generation CH Series Military Drones at Airshow China 2018

China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp (CASC) will display a new generation attack and reconnaissance UAV dubbed as the CH-X at the Airshow China 2018 later this year.

"A new generation CH series UAVs, the CH-X which is the most advanced in the CH series, will be displayed at Airshow China 2018 in Zhuhai this year," Shi Wen, the chief engineer and designer of China's Caihong (CH), or Rainbow UAV made by CASC  said at the press conference in Beijing Monday.

Among the advanced features proposed in CH series drones are synchronized operations between UAVs and military aircraft and carrier-based UAVs, Chinese experts said.

"We also are making efforts to promote artificial intelligence (AI) for UAVs to allow manned aircraft to co-pilot UAVs," Shi said.

Shi's team at the CASC has developed China’s most successful drones such as the CH-3, CH-4 and the advanced CH-5, which can now engage in surveillance and attack missions. The CH series of drones has been sold in some Middle East and African countries, Global Times reported.

"On average, every CH-series drone has a flying time of more than 1,200 around the world every year, so we have a huge database to support AI technology research," Shi said.

China is focused on building a powerful navy, and its first domestically built aircraft carrier is preparing for its first sea trial, and the carrier-based UAV is also being developed, Li Jie, a Beijing-based naval expert, told the Global Times on Tuesday.