CH-7 / Caihong-7
A Chinese high-altitude flying-wing development whose first flight was announced in December 2025, superseding older exhibition-only descriptions.
- Country / region
- China
- Programme status
- Development / trials
- Sources reviewed
- 20 Sept 2026
- Primary domain
- Air
- System type
- Reconnaissance aircraft
- Developer / manufacturer
- CASC — China Academy of Aerospace Aerodynamics
- Origin / production countries
- China
- Other names
- Caihong-7; Rainbow-7; CH 7
- Variants / configurations
- CH-7 flight-test configuration announced December 2025
- Operators / programme customers
- CASC development and flight-test programme
Evidence & current status
The developer confirms a first flight. Older exhibition targets are not treated as achieved performance of the flown configuration.
Role & capabilities
- Reconnaissance aircraft
Specifications in context
- Airframe
- High-aspect-ratio flying wing
Description of the configuration in the first-flight announcement.
Source ↗ - Launch / recovery
- Not established from the reviewed public sources.
Public data gap; no estimate or neighbouring variant value substituted.
Source ↗ - Propulsion
- Not established from the reviewed public sources.
Public data gap; no estimate or neighbouring variant value substituted.
Source ↗ - Dimensions
- Not established from the reviewed public sources.
Public data gap; no estimate or neighbouring variant value substituted.
Source ↗ - Mass
- Not established from the reviewed public sources.
Public data gap; no estimate or neighbouring variant value substituted.
Source ↗ - Endurance
- Not established from the reviewed public sources.
Public data gap; no estimate or neighbouring variant value substituted.
Source ↗ - Range
- Not established from the reviewed public sources.
Public data gap; no estimate or neighbouring variant value substituted.
Source ↗ - Speed
- Not established from the reviewed public sources.
Public data gap; no estimate or neighbouring variant value substituted.
Source ↗ - Altitude
- Not established from the reviewed public sources.
Public data gap; no estimate or neighbouring variant value substituted.
Source ↗ - Payload
- Not established from the reviewed public sources.
Public data gap; no estimate or neighbouring variant value substituted.
Source ↗ - Sensors
- Visible-light and infrared mission-payload options
Options described by developer; payload-function testing was still planned.
Source ↗ - Communications / navigation
- Not established from the reviewed public sources.
Public data gap; no estimate or neighbouring variant value substituted.
Source ↗