Rainbow UAV is on display during the China Brand Day event on May 9, 2021 in Shanghai. Photo: CFP

China's unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) maker, Aerospace CH UAV Co (Aerospace CH), signed a framework agreement with the municipal government of Changsha, Central China's Hunan Province, to set up a general aviation industrial base for the company's  Rainbow UAV series, according to a filing submitted by the company to the Shenzhen Stock Exchange. 

The industrial base will manage UAV client training and aftersales services in order to support Rainbow UAV's global business, the agreement noted. Aerospace CH will also set up Rainbow UAV general aviation business base at Changsha's airport.

Both parties will carry out research and development of production and services related to UAVs to explore both domestic and overseas markets. This cooperation will help Hunan integrate its aviation technologies and resources, open up UAV industrial supply chains and develop new business models. 

They will also develop application scenarios for UAVs in Hunan to serve the region's economic construction, while pushing academic and industrial cooperation in areas like new concept aircraft, artificial intelligence and cluster technology. An intelligent unmanned system innovation center will also be established under the partnership. 

Aerospace CH is a listed company controlled by the Eleventh Research Institute of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation. Its Rainbow series of UAVs reportedly rival US’ MQ-9 Reaper which is used for reconnaissance and high-precision air strikes.

Aerospace CH stressed that the agreement will not have a major impact on the company's financial status or influence its business independence. It also noted that further contracts need to be signed for detailed projects.