콩고민주공화국, CH-4 UAV 운용

[위종민]

콩고 민주공화국이 중국판 MQ-9인 CH-4 UAV를 운용하기 시작했다고 합니다. 지난  6월 CH-4 3대와 지상관제소가 영상에 포착됐다고 하고, 총 9대 주문분 중 3대가 5월에 인도된 것으로 보입니다. 

알제리, 요르단, 이라크, 인도네시아, 파키스탄, 사우디 아라비아가 CH-4를 도입했으며, 모로코와 이집트에선 CH-4와 유사한 Wing Loong을 운용중이라고 합니다. 알제리는 중국 무인항공기를 특히 선호해서 CH-3 ISR 무인기 5대를 인도받았고 CH-4 무장형 5대/CH-5 무장형 5대/Wing Loong II 무인기를 인도받을 예정이라고 하네요. 나이지리아 역시 CH-3A 수 대를 인도받았고 Wing Loong II 2대, CH-4 4대, CH-3 2대를 인도받는 중이며 터키에서 TB-2도 도입중이라고 합니다. 

미국이 무장형 무인기 수출에 소극적으로 나서는 동안 중국이 그 공백을 신속하게 채웠는데, SIPRI에 따르면 중국은 지난 10년간 17개국에 무장형 무인기 282대를 수출했다고 합니다. 

https://www.defenceweb.co.za/aerospace/aerospace-aerospace/drc-operating-ch-4-uavs/

DRC operating CH-4 UAVs

Guy Martin -

6th Jul 2023

3127

CH-4 unmanned aerial vehicles.

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is the latest African nation to put the CH-4 unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) into service after ordering nine from the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation.

Three CH-4s and a ground control station were seen at N’Dolo Airport in Kinshasha in a video that circulated last month, with one spotted taxiing past a hangar where another two were parked.

Satellite imagery seems to indicate a new hangar for the UAVs had been completed by May this year, with a taxiway leading off the main runway. Construction began around March.

Three CH-4s were apparently delivered from China in May out of an order for nine, Africa Intelligence reported, with remaining deliveries by year-end.

The UAVs have been acquired to help combat rebels in the conflict-ridden DRC, and form part of numerous other arms sales aimed at bolstering the DRC’s armed forces. South Africa, through Paramount, is for example supplying six Mwari light combat aircraft and Maatla light 4×4 protected vehicles.

The CH-4 was introduced in 2011 and has been in Chinese military service since 2014. The aircraft has a maximum take-off weight of 1 330 kg and a payload of 345 kg in addition to its electro-optical turret and synthetic aperture radar. The CH-4 has a wingspan of 18 metres and length of 8.5 metres. It is powered by a 100 hp class piston engine giving a top speed of 235 km/h and cruise speed of 180 km/h with endurance of up to 40 hours. It can carry a varied armament including cluster bombs, guided bombs and missiles.

The CH-4 has been acquired by Algeria, Jordan, Iraq, Indonesia, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia, while China’s similar Wing Loong is – in Africa – in service in Morocco and Egypt. Algeria is an enthusiastic user of Chinese UAVs, and took delivery of five CH-3s for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR), and five armed CH-4s – five armed CH-5s and Wing Loong IIs will also be delivered. Nigeria received several CH-3A UAVs in 2014 to combat Boko Haram terrorists, and is taking delivery of two Wing Loong II, four CH-4, and two CH-3 aircraft. Nigeria’s military is also getting Bayraktar TB2 UAVs from Turkey.

The United States’ unwillingness to supply export customers with armed UAVs means that nations like China are stepping in to fill the gap. The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) notes that China has delivered 282 combat UAVs to 17 countries over the last decade, making it the world’s top seller of armed UAVs while the United States has only delivered 12 combat UAVs abroad in the same time (to France and the United Kingdom).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CASC_Rainbow (CASC CH 시리즈 무인기) 

https://www.militarydrones.org.cn/ch-4-rainbow-uav-drone-china-price-manufacturer-p00095p1.html (CH-4)

https://www.militarydrones.org.cn/ch-3-rainbow-uav-drone-china-price-manufacturer-p00096p1.html (CH-3)

https://www.militarydrones.org.cn/wing-loong-uav-drone-china-price-manufacturer-p00092p1.html (Wing Loong)

https://www.militarydrones.org.cn/wing-loong-2-uav-drone-china-price-manufacturer-p00093p1.html (Wing Loong II) 

[백선호]

중국이 돈 꿔주고 광물 자원 받는 식으로 팔았을라나요? 결제는 위안으로 했는지 달러로 했는지 궁금하네요.

[위종민]

https://thediplomat.com/2023/03/china-sends-military-drones-to-drc-amid-fears-of-regional-war/

이 기사에선 "중국은 구매자에게 유연한 결제 옵션을 제공한다"는 한 문장만 있고, 이 거래의 지급방식이 어떤지는 안 나와있네요. 달러베이스 경화 거래는 아닌 것 같고, 광물 현물거래나 채굴권 등이 아닐까 합니다만..

"China also provides purchasers with flexible payment options."