China successfully tests rocket near the edge of space

On February 12, the Chinese military completed a six-day test of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) called the CH-4, which included operating at extremely high altitudes and test-firing missiles in complex weather conditions.People's Dailyreport

In its final test, the CH-4 flew for 15 hours at an altitude of 20 kilometers above sea level. While it is far from the boundary of space at 100 kilometers, it is still in the area considered the “edge of space” about 18 to 100 kilometers above sea level. Beijing says the new CH-4 can reach altitudes of up to 65 kilometers and operate for weeks on end using solar power.

This is also the first time this version of the CH-4 has test-fired weapons. The aircraft can carry a variety of cluster bombs and guided missiles. Deploying firepower from extremely high altitudes faces many challenges, such as extreme weather that can significantly reduce accuracy or the aircraft and weapons being vulnerable to enemy electronic warfare systems.

The China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) claims that the CH-4 has better basic performance than the US MQ-1 Predator. Beijing has been able to produce many types of UAVs at much lower prices than Washington, increasing its export potential to countries with small defense budgets. China's Wing Loong UAVs sell for an average of $5 million each, compared to $100 million for similar US-made systems.