First disclosure! "Electric flight, oil-powered generation" domestic aircraft engine technology is further upgraded

For a long time, drone propulsion has split into two paths: internal combustion propulsion is often used in medium and large drones—powerful and with long endurance—yet it’s clearly noisy. Pure electric propulsion is more commonly equipped on small or micro drones—quiet and hard to detect, with low infrared characteristics—but with poorer endurance. What if the two were integrated to create hybrid propulsion that balances long-lasting capability and stealth silence?

CCTV Military first disclosed: on December 10, 2025, a 60-kilowatt hybrid electric propulsion system underwent a test for flight and airframe systems integration. It allows the aircraft to “fly using electricity and generate power using fuel.” The gas turbine engine does not directly drive the aircraft; instead, it directly drives a generator to charge the battery, while the aircraft’s flight thrust is output by an electric ducted fan. This series-extended hybrid propulsion system combines the long endurance advantages of fuel with the quiet benefits of electricity. The system is compact and serves as an “all-round partner” for electric aircraft: it generates power while flying, extending range while also eliminating the long charging process. It can be deployed faster; during flight, the engine can be shut down to switch to a pure electric mode, reducing heat generation and improving quietness. And the ducted fan that truly provides thrust to the aircraft is more like mounting a propeller inside a cylindrical “shroud,” resulting in lower noise, truly achieving “quietly arriving, quietly departing.”

Now, the 60-kilowatt hybrid electric propulsion system has completed flight demonstration and verification, and the hybrid “heart” for small drones is gradually moving toward maturity. (CCTV Military)