China unveils revolutionary VTOL drone for ship-based recon and strikes

Chinese aerospace engineers have revealed a high-speed vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) jet drone capable of operating from ordinary warships, even in rough seas.

The drone can lift off like a helicopter and transition seamlessly into fast, long-range flight, potentially allowing Chinese destroyers, frigates, or amphibious vessels to function as mini aircraft carriers, Caliber.Az reports via the Chinese press.

Developed over a decade at Beihang University by Wang Yaokun and Qiu Yuting, the drone combines compact rotors for vertical lift with a miniature turbojet for high-speed cruise. Its patented retractable fairing system encloses the rotors after take-off, reducing drag by up to 60 per cent and creating a teardrop-shaped fuselage optimised for jet flight.

Advanced composites make the airframe lightweight, strong, and resistant to repeated carrier-like operations, while thermal shielding protects it from turbojet exhaust exceeding 700°C.

Flight tests of a 45kg prototype showed speeds of 230 km/h, with smooth transitions between VTOL and cruise modes managed by sophisticated control algorithms.

Conceived for the Chinese navy’s “non-carrier vessels,” the drone is designed for reconnaissance, strike, and swarm operations from any surface ship. Experts say large-scale deployment could allow persistent surveillance, rapid strike capability, and flexible force projection across vast ocean areas, creating a distributed and resilient naval combat network.

However, compromises exist: the rotor system adds weight during cruise, and the turbojet remains inactive during vertical flight, limiting payload and range compared with pure jet drones. The platform is better suited for reconnaissance, electronic warfare, or precision strikes with small munitions rather than heavy ordnance.

By Tamilla Hasanova