Quieter, stealthier, further: new hybrid unit to power China’s small battle drones

A hybrid propulsion system designed to make small battlefield drones stealthier and go further has passed its flight tests, according to Chinese state media.The system’s motor is driven by fuel-powered electricity, combining two systems to make the best of both, according to a report on Friday on CCTV-7, China’s military television channel.Drone propulsion has largely followed two distinct paths. Fuel-powered systems are typically used in bigger uncrewed aircraft, offering strong performance and long endurance but generating a lot of noise.Smaller drones are usually powered by electric batteries, making them quieter and less visible on the infrared spectrum but reducing their time in the air.The 60-kilowatt system, tested in December, seeks to integrate the advantages.By combining fuel and electric power, the system can generate electricity from fuel during flight and switch to quiet electric mode when needed, enabling small drones to fly longer distances while maintaining low noise and reducing thermal signatures.