On February 1, the Rainbow YH-1000S, the world’s first hybrid unmanned cargo aircraft, completed its maiden flight in Liangping District of Southwest China’s Chongqing Municipality. The aircraft was developed by China Academy of Aerospace Aerodynamics, a R&D institute of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation.
The Rainbow YH-1000S makes its maiden flight. [Photo/sasac.gov.cn]
The Rainbow YH-1000S is an upgraded version of Rainbow YH-1000, which first flew in May, 2025. The new aircraft is designed to adapt to the rapidly evolving demands of global customers. Equipped with a high-power hybrid engine jointly made by the institute and a leading Chinese new energy vehicle manufacturer, the new aircraft can take off and land in a much shorter distance, carry heavier payloads and travel farther. It has successfully completed its airworthiness verification.
The new aircraft marks China’s first major effort to integrate drone and vehicle technologies. By leveraging shared supply chains and modular production methods, the collaboration reduces the research and production cost of drones and facilitates the fusion of technological and industrial innovation.
The Rainbow YH-1000S, as a large, airworthy unmanned cargo aircraft, is expected to play important roles across multiple domains, including international logistics transport, emergency response and disaster relief, weather modification, ocean surveillance, and maritime supervision.
(Executive editor: Yuan Ting)
