China's high-altitude CH-7 stealth drone: A threat to Western defences in Asia-Pacific?

After images of China's land-based medium-weight stealth fighter Shenyang J-35A and the upgraded variant of its Shenyang J-15 carrier-borne fighter jet J-15T went viral recently, a new set of pictures of another Chinese military asset—the long-endurance unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) CH-7—is doing the rounds on the internet.

The high-altitude CH-7 stealth drone, developed by China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC), is suited for intelligence, reconnaissance, and surveillance (ISR) missions apart from strike missions. The drone was originally unveiled at the 2018 edition of the China Air Show.

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The CH-7 stealth drones are understood to be capable of going deep into the enemy airspace and can operate for longer periods of time without being detected because of the low-observable (stealth) design and its ability to fly at high altitudes. Its flying-wing configuration reduces radar detection and lowers acoustic detectability, making it ideal for stealth missions.

CH-7, powered by a single turbofan engine, can fly at altitudes up to 13,000 meters with a maximum speed of Mach 0.75. According to Bulgarianmilitary.com, the aerodynamic properties of the drone help CH-7 have enhanced stability and efficiency at high speeds.

The development of CH-7 is in line with China's efforts to augment its inventory with versatile, high-tech equipment suitable for multi-domain operations.

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According to media reports, the drone has design similarities to the B-21 Raider of the United States, which can “penetrate the toughest defenses to deliver precision strikes anywhere in the world.” Weapon systems like the CH-7—a valuable asset for China's military strategy in the Asia-Pacific region—help China position itself competitively against Western nations in terms of UAV technology and military capabilities.

Chinese media released videos and stills of the drone, seen on an unidentified runway. However, it is also possible that these could be computer-generated images.