CASC CH-901 | |
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Type | loitering munition |
Place of origin | China |
Production history | |
Manufacturer | China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation |
Produced | 2016 - present |
Variants | CASC CH-901A, Feihong FH-901 |
The CASC CH-901 is a loitering munition developed by the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) in 2016. 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. [1] In 2020 China unveiled a truck fitted with 48 launch tubes for CH-901 loitering munitions.
The CH-901 can also be launched from the new FH-97 loyal wingman drone unveiled at Airshow China in 2021. [2]
External videos | |
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Footage of CH-901 on YouTube |
The CH-901 can be readied and launched from its tube in 3 minutes. [3] 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 m (330 ft) to 150 m (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 (7.5 lbs) 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. [4]
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