Recently, the Rainbow 7 high-altitude and high-speed stealth unmanned aerial vehicle developed by China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation successfully made its maiden flight at a certain airport in northwest China. A series of strict testing and verification work will continue to be carried out in the future. Some believe that this move signifies China's entry into the "high-end stealth drone club" and becoming one of the few countries in the world that has mastered the relevant technology. In the blink of an eye, from its first public release to its successful maiden flight, the Rainbow 7 has gone through an extraordinary journey of 7 years. The US "Theater Command" website stated that this type of drone was first unveiled at the 2018 Zhuhai Airshow, when it was still a full-size model. In 2022 and 2024, Rainbow 7 participated in multiple exhibitions, and foreign media noticed that its appearance and size had changed. In summary, it means lengthening the wingspan, increasing the size, and continuously optimizing the overall performance. The data shows that the Rainbow 7 has a wingspan of about 26 meters, can fly at an altitude of 15000 meters, has a combat radius of over 2000 kilometers, and a maximum takeoff weight of about 10 tons. According to relevant reports, the Rainbow 7 is designed to perform strategic level tasks, including covert reconnaissance, battlefield surveillance, early warning detection, as well as guiding and directly striking high-value targets. It is reported that as a high-end equipment that integrates cutting-edge technology, the Rainbow 7 can be regarded as a domestically produced large aircraft in the field of military unmanned aerial vehicles, and the research and development difficulty is beyond imagination. According to reports, unlike early models of the Rainbow family that used conventional aerodynamic layouts, the Rainbow 7 chose a flying wing layout resembling a bat from the beginning of its project. Research shows that this "wing body fusion+stealth tailless" design can eliminate radar reflection sources caused by traditional tail fins, improve aerodynamic efficiency, increase lift and range. However, at the same time, it has extremely high requirements for flight control, coupled with the development and use of a large number of new materials, technologies, and processes, which will make the project progress very difficult. According to the website of "Aviator" in the United States, taking the RQ-180 unmanned aerial vehicle, nicknamed "Big White Bat" and adopting a similar technology route, as an example, it took 10 years from research and development to mass production, and was secretly installed for 4 years before its true appearance was revealed. According to analysis, the Rainbow 7 was publicly unveiled from its conceptual state and has since showcased phased achievements multiple times. This not only demonstrates China's confidence in its own technological strength, but also reflects its pragmatic and steady research style. Experts from China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation stated that the Rainbow 7 is dedicated to forging swords, with the aim of "meeting the urgent demand for high-end stealth unmanned aerial vehicles in future symmetrical operations". In layman's terms, this sentence refers to the fact that the Rainbow 7 will focus on "high-end scenarios" and aim for high-intensity wars that may break out in the future, playing an important role in the information-based strike system. Analysis suggests that at that time, the "Lone Ranger" Rainbow 7 can rely on its powerful stealth performance to quietly complete intelligence gathering work in high-risk battlefield environments with harsh living conditions. After discovering the target, it will transform into an "air intelligence center", instructing and guiding subsequent fleets or long-range missiles to carry out precise strikes on military facilities and weapons of significant value to the enemy, completing a one shot kill. Perhaps it is precisely because of the potential strategic deterrence of the Rainbow 7 that Malaysia's "Asia Defense and Security" website believes that the Rainbow 7 may reshape the future balance of air power in the Asia Pacific region. (New Society)