Chinese state-owned company AVIC Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group officially unveiled a new vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) unmanned aerial vehicle, called the Yunying-25V, during CCTV’s 2026 Traditional Television Festival in Yibin city.
The model, described as a “tail-sitter” drone (which takes off on its tail), attracted attention for its design with built-in propeller drive, which is very similar to the V-BAT developed by the American company Shield AI.
During the public presentation, ten aircraft performed coordinated flight, marking one of the first large-scale demonstrations of the system. According to the manufacturer, Yunying is designed to operate in confined spaces and only requires an area of 3 × 3 meters for takeoff and landing. The concept allows quick launch from limited terrain or even mobile platforms, supporting agile and flexible use in different scenarios.
The drone is available in two versions: an electric one with a maximum starting weight of 25 kg and a gasoline version weighing up to 31 kg. Both can operate up to 4,000 meters altitude. The stated maximum speed is 190 km/h for the electric version and 210 km/h for the fuel version. The payload varies between 3 and 4 kg depending on the model. With a wingspan of 2.6 meters and a total length of 1.96 meters, the drone is developed with a modular, detachable structure, which facilitates transport in vans and allows it to be ready to fly in less than five minutes.
Classified as a hybrid VTOL platform, the Yunying combines vertical take-off with the cruise efficiency typical of fixed-wing aircraft. The system enables switching from vertical to horizontal flight and achieves higher speeds compared to traditional multi-rotor drones. Equipped with electro-optical sensors for real-time image transmission, it can be used for urban surveillance, industrial inspections and emergency relief missions.
Although the company does not name foreign competitors, the overall configuration is clearly reminiscent of the V-BAT and highlights the growing global competition in compact drones for expeditionary operations and distributed surveillance.
Source: Defence Blog | Photo: X @tphuang | This content is created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team
AVIC CAC showcases how easy it is for a person to control a bunch of drones for an airshow.
I’d imagine that 1000s of drones show would involve more than this. pic.twitter.com/FABF4zLcN0
— tphuang (@tphuang) February 17, 2026
