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China Flight-Tests Hybrid Engine for Stealthier Battle Drones
The hybrid system combines fuel and electric power to extend small drone flight endurance while reducing noise and thermal signatures, tested successfully in December by Chinese developers.
- On Friday, CCTV-7 reported that a Chinese-developed hybrid propulsion system for small drones has passed flight tests, designed to improve stealth and endurance for battlefield operations.
- Traditionally, small drones rely on batteries for quiet flight but lack range, while fuel-powered engines offer endurance but generate significant noise and heat signatures.
- Built by Sichuan Tianfu Light Power Technology, the 60-kilowatt system uses a gas turbine to charge batteries while an electric fan provides the actual thrust.
- This dual-mode capability enables drones to switch between quiet and high-power modes, allowing smaller platforms to fly farther while operating discreetly.
- Uncrewed systems are playing a growing role in modern warfare, handling missions from reconnaissance to precision strikes, with recent fighting in the Persian Gulf demonstrating drone use at scale.
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