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PLA shows off new UCAV, while CH-5 achieves sale to Iraq

27th September 2023 - 14:00 GMT | by Gordon Arthur in Christchurch

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The KVD002, presumed to be a customised variant of the CH-4, has entered PLA service. (Photo: Chinese internet)

China's aerospace industry continues to develop and sell advanced UAVs both at home and on the international market and has displayed UCAVs at the China Helicopter Exhibition in Tianjin.

The People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) is an avid user of UCAVs, with the likes of the Wing Loong II and WZ-10 in its inventory. Now, the PLA ground force has adopted similar UCAVs while, farther afield, Iraq has likely emerged as the first customer for the CH-5.

At the China Helicopter Exhibition in Tianjin, held from 14-17 September, the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) exhibited a KVD002 UCAV, which it claimed was the service’s first reconnaissance and strike UAV.

The PLA said the platform can conduct long-endurance reconnaissance, and perform precision strikes against targets such as air defence weapons,

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