Algerian Air Force chinese-made CASC CH-4B drone crashed near Wilaya d’Oum el-Bouaghi under unknown circumstances.
For the moment there is no official information on this accident, however, according to a video posted on YouTube, the witnesses filmed the fall of high voltage cables, as well as the pole that he carried it to the scene of the accident.
According to the same source which quotes experts, “it is possible that the accident took place during the approach of the drone whose pilot on the ground could not avoid the electric line or that the high voltage cables which swarm in the area caused electromagnetic disturbances that led to the crash. “
It is the third listed crash of CH-4 drones in Algeria, the first two had taken place during the tests, Mena Defense said again.
CASC Rainbow is a series of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) developed by the China Academy of Aerospace Aerodynamics of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC).
CH-4 is the largest fixed-wing UCAV of the Rainbow series (as of the end of 2013). Externally, CH-4 looks almost identical to General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper, and the only distinct visual difference between two UAVs is that the ventral fin below the V-tail on MQ-9 is absent on CH-4.
There are two versions, the CH-4A and CH-4B. The CH-4A is a reconnaissance drone (capable of a 3500–5000 km range and a 30- to 40-hour endurance) while the CH-4B is a mixed attack and reconnaissance system with provisions for 6 weapons and a payload of up to 250 to 345 kg.
CH-4 is capable of firing an air-to-ground missile from an altitude of 5,000 meters (~16,400 feet), therefore the aircraft can stay outside of the effective range of most anti-aircraft guns. It also allows CH-4 to be able to fire from a position that provides a wider viewing area.
