| CH-901 / FH-901 | |
|---|---|
 FH-901 loitering munition mockup | |
| Type | anti-ship, anti-tank, land-attack missile / loitering munition |
| Place of origin | China |
| Production history | |
| Manufacturer | China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) |
| Produced | 2016-present |
| Specifications | |
| Warhead | 3.5 kg (7.7 lb) of HE / HE-Frag / HEAT shaped charge / camera head |
| Flight altitude | 100–150 m (330–490 ft) |
| Maximum speed | Stanard: 180 km/h (110 mph) Cruise: 100 km/h (62 mph) Terminal: 288 km/h (179 mph) |
Guidance system | electro-optical seeker |
Launch platform | Air, ground-launched |
The CH-901, also known as the FH-901,[1] is a type of loitering munition developed by the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) in 2016, part of the Rainbow series.
| External videos | |
|---|---|
 Footage of CH-901 on YouTube |
Launch platform
The drone can be deployed in several ways; it can be carried by soldiers in the field and launched out of a tube, as well as from vehicles, aircraft, and UCAVs.[2]
In 2020, China unveiled a truck fitted with 48 launch tubes for CH-901 loitering munitions.[3]
The CH-901 can also be launched from the new FH-97 loyal wingman drone, which was unveiled at Airshow China in 2021.[4]
Design
The CH-901 can be prepared and launched from its tube in 3 minutes.[5] The drone then dashes to its target area at 180 km/h (110 mph), where it flies around for up to 60 minutes, at 100 km/h (62 mph), and at an altitude of 100–150 m (330–490 ft). Once a target is located using the drones electro-optical guidance, it dives onto its target at 288 km/h (179 mph) and detonates its warhead. The CH-901 can carry a 3.5 kg (7.7 lb) high explosive warhead, a fragmentation charge, a shaped charge for penetrating armor, or a camera for reconnaissance. The drones can also be launched in waves to swarm and overwhelm enemies.[6]
Specifications
Data from [6]
General characteristics
- Length: 1.2 m (3 ft 11 in)
- Gross weight: 9 kg (19.8 lb)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 288 km/h (179 mph, 156 kn) when diving
- Cruise speed: 180 km/h (110 mph, 97 kn) cruising to target
- Range: 15 km (9.3 mi, 8.1 nmi)
- Endurance: 60 minutes
- Service ceiling: 150 m (490 ft)
References
- ^ Felstead, Peter (8 January 2023). "What are loitering aerial munitions?". Key Aero.
China now produces a wide variety of LMs, a number of which – such as the Rainbow CH-901/FH-901, Norinco Cruise Dragon/Loitering Dragon 10A, and BG-201 – are launched from a mortar-like launcher and are roughly analogous to the US Switchblade. The 7kg RF70, 10kg RF90 and 20kg RF200 are similar but can also be air-launched. The Norinco Loitering Dragon 5A is a small quadcopter LM, while the 7kg S570 is similar to smaller LMs in the Hero family and is said to be able to penetrate 60mm of armour. The turbojet-powered, 100-150kg series of CM-501 LMs developed by CASIC offer a variety of payloads and ranges out to 70km, while the Cruise Dragon/Loitering Dragon 60A and WS-43 are larger LMs deployed from a multiple rocket launcher.
- ^ "China's Mini-Drone Packs a Heavyweight Punch". Popular Mechanics. 2016-05-05. Retrieved 2023-02-08.
- ^ Trevithick, Joseph (14 October 2025). "China Conducts Test Of Massive Suicide Drone Swarm Launched From A Box On A Truck". The War Zone.
- ^ "FH-97 loyal wingman concept unveiled at Airshow China 2021". www.airrecognition.com. Retrieved 2023-02-08.
- ^ "China defense industry presents CH-901 suicide drone at SOFEX 2018". armyrecognition.com. Retrieved 2023-02-08.
- ^ a b Eshel, Tamir (2022-08-29). "A New Chinese Loitering Weapon Appears in Thailand". Defense Update. Retrieved 2023-02-08.
External links
