Looking back at the 2021 Zhuhai Air Show, we can get a glimpse of the future air combat mode from the Rainbow series of unmanned combat systems

The 2021 Zhuhai Air Show has come to an end.

Compared with previous air shows, the postponed air show did not have foreign flight demonstration teams and many foreign exhibitors. However, various unmanned systems became one of the protagonists of this air show, including drones of various shapes and characteristics, unmanned combat vehicles, small unmanned boats, and unmanned submarines. It can be said that the participation of these unmanned systems seems to have foreshadowed the future war mode, which will enter an era of manned and unmanned coordination, unmanned systems and intelligent warfare. But the only drawback is that since these unmanned equipment come from different companies, they are like independent weapons and equipment, rather than a mature unmanned combat system.

However, in this "gluttonous feast" of unmanned systems, the Rainbow UAV, known as the "King of the Clouds", demonstrated its advantages in the field of drones, and it can be said that it showed people an aerial combat mode of unmanned systems. At this Zhuhai Air Show, the Rainbow UAVs highlighted five types of drones: Rainbow-6, Rainbow-5 (model), Rainbow-4, Rainbow-10 and Rainbow-817. Although there is no Rainbow-7 large flying wing drone that amazed the audience in 2018, nor the "Rainbow" ultra-high altitude solar drone that once attracted much attention. However, we can still get a glimpse of the future model of unmanned warfare from these drones.

The Rainbow-6 UAV, with a ceiling of up to 15,000 meters and a speed of 700 kilometers per hour, can quickly reach the battlefield for pre-war reconnaissance. At the same time, it can serve as the command and control and network hub of the entire unmanned combat system at high altitudes during combat, and conduct command in the air; the Rainbow-5 UAV, with a mission payload of 480 kilograms, can undertake both air combat and ground strikes, "sweeping orders" in the air, and can also launch strikes on ground targets; the Rainbow-4, with a flight time of up to 30 hours, can use various ammunition systems to burn ground targets to death; the compact and durable Rainbow-817 can become a nightmare for a single soldier. In addition, there is the Rainbow-10 unmanned tilt-rotor aircraft, which can perform tasks such as reconnaissance, detection, communication relay, search, target indication and relay guidance.

Of course, if you think that the 18-21 hours of hovering time of the Rainbow-6 UAV is a bit short, and the Rainbow-5 UAV does not have stealth capabilities. Then the Rainbow UAV system, as well as the "Rainbow" ultra-high altitude solar-powered UAV with a longer hovering time and higher flight altitude, can better perform battlefield command and surveillance tasks in the combat airspace; and the large flying wing UAV Rainbow-7 can take advantage of its low detectability and can also perform battlefield reconnaissance, aerial "sweeps", and "knocking on doors" and other tasks. If these two drones are added, the entire unmanned combat system will be more complete and more powerful. It is even possible to achieve one-way transparency on the battlefield.

Of course, in addition to various drones, if you want to make the unmanned combat system more deterrent, the ammunition system is also an indispensable factor. At the Zhuhai Air Show, the ammunition of the Rainbow UAV has covered multiple levels of 10, 20, 40, 80, and 100 kilograms, and the types also include various missiles, cruise missiles and precision-guided weapons. Among them, the "Shooter" AR-1B air-to-ground missile has the ability to be launched from an altitude of 7,000 meters. In addition to these "traditional" ammunition, the "Shooter" AR series of cruise missiles has a range of up to 40 kilometers and can cruise in the air for half an hour to one hour. It can not only be used for special operations, but also for police counter-terrorism operations.

It can be said that the Rainbow UAV and the "Shooter" AR ammunition that can perform different tasks can become a complete unmanned combat system. Moreover, various combination modes can be carried out according to the needs of different customers. For example, for users who need high-end systems and have sufficient funds, Rainbow-7 and "Rainbow" ultra-high altitude solar drones can be provided; and for customers with limited funds, a slightly "low-end" but durable combination of Rainbow-6, Rainbow-5 and Rainbow-4 can be combined for them. In fact, no matter which combination is used, it will reflect the "low-cost, durable" unmanned combat characteristics.

Therefore, a single unmanned weapon, no matter how advanced it is, will show various disadvantages in future combat. Only with a true unmanned combat system can the role and advantages of the unmanned combat mode be brought into play.

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At the Zhuhai Air Show, Rainbow UAV not only demonstrated the group advantages of air combat systems, but also actively explored the future unmanned combat at sea. For example, an AUV (unmanned underwater vehicle) gave people all kinds of reverie about future anti-submarine warfare.

If USV (unmanned surface vessel) and UGV (unmanned ground vehicle) are added, a complete unmanned combat system will be formed. This may be even more worth looking forward to.