The 15th China International Aviation & Aerospace Exhibition (China Airshow) opened today in Zhuhai, Guangdong. A wide array of cutting-edge exhibits showcasing advanced global achievements in aerospace and defense technology are on display. This year’s airshow features over 890 exhibitors from 47 countries and regions, covering an indoor exhibition space of 120,000 square meters, and includes a new unmanned aerial and maritime vehicle demonstration area (Doumen Lianzhou) of about 330,000 square meters.
In the static display section, several new domestically produced unmanned transport aircraft, varying in size and design, are featured prominently, marking an upgrade over the previous exhibition. Among them, the Twin-Tailed Scorpion D, a large four-engine fixed-wing UAV in the outdoor static display area, stands out. Unlike the previous airshow, this delivery model Twin-Tailed Scorpion D has “evolved” with a modular drop-in cargo hold design, increasing its maximum payload capacity to 1.8 tons. Notably, a standard cargo hold for this UAV is displayed next to the Twin-Tailed Scorpion D, demonstrating its highly modular design that allows for quick body swaps and versatile configurations to meet diverse customer needs.
Additionally, this year’s airshow has established themed exhibition areas, including a Low Altitude Economy Pavilion, Commercial Aircraft Industry Pavilion, and Civil Aviation Industry Exhibition Area. The new Low Altitude Economy Pavilion serves as a showcase for large unmanned transport equipment, displaying new large fixed-wing unmanned transport aircraft, heavy-lift tilt-rotor UAVs, and tandem rotor UAVs. The Tengden large twin-engine unmanned transport aircraft, which completed its maiden flight in August and recently performed at the Zigong Low Altitude Equipment Expo on November 1st, is also making its debut at this airshow as one of the “treasures” of the Low Altitude Economy Pavilion. This UAV, with a maximum payload capacity of 2 tons and a cargo space of 12 cubic meters, offers advanced intelligent control systems, reliable autonomous flight capabilities, and a modular cargo hold design, reducing operational complexity and costs. It is currently one of the leading 2-ton-class unmanned transport aircraft in China with mature operational capability.
In recent years, the development and application of unmanned equipment have surged globally. From civil applications to the defense industry, various unmanned systems—particularly drones and unmanned vessels—have captured significant attention. This trend has now extended to this year’s China Airshow.
On one hand, the rise of the low-altitude economy has attracted many enterprises to this blue-ocean market. In the second exhibition area of this year’s China Airshow, a dedicated space for unmanned technology has drawn considerable interest.
In the air, large fixed-wing drones are capable of carrying multiple high-performance payloads, quad-rotor platforms are being applied in logistics, energy, and agriculture, and micro coaxial dual-rotor helicopters with AI recognition capabilities are expanding the range of drone applications.
On water, intelligent unmanned boats are performing fleet demonstrations on rivers, showcasing high levels of intelligence, maneuverability, and multi-tasking capabilities, providing the audience with a more comprehensive and direct experience.
Inside the exhibition halls, hundreds of exhibitors have brought a wide range of products covering drones, unmanned boats, composite materials, radar components, and other fields related to unmanned equipment, presenting a comprehensive display of the industry’s advancements.
According to expert Zhou Zhiyong, compared to traditional models, unmanned equipment offers significant advantages in safety, economy, and efficiency. With ongoing technological iteration and improved regulatory policies, the application scenarios for unmanned equipment are continuously evolving, enabling large-scale deployment with a broad range of uses and promising prospects.
In the military domain, unmanned equipment has also seen remarkable advancements in recent years. As Cheng Ziheng, spokesperson for the China North Industries Group, explained, unmanned equipment has become mainstream in modern combat operations. Numerous military unmanned devices are also on display at this year’s airshow.
In the static display area, the Chinese Air Force’s “star equipment,” such as the WZ-7 and WZ-10 large drones, have attracted considerable attention. The WZ-7, independently developed by China, is a high-altitude reconnaissance drone for missions like border surveillance and coastal patrol, while the WZ-10, with its advanced reconnaissance and electronic warfare capabilities, significantly boosts the combat effectiveness of China’s armed forces.
Notably, this year, the WZ-7 and WZ-10 were not transported to the exhibition by land; instead, they autonomously flew to the airshow venue, demonstrating a high level of autonomous control capability.
Furthermore, light unmanned tanks, unmanned ground combat platforms, and robotic “wolves” also made appearances, showcasing the latest advancements in unmanned land systems.
Cheng Ziheng emphasized that various types of unmanned equipment, including drones, unmanned vehicles, unmanned boats, and robots, are deeply integrated into modern warfare. “Unmanned modules have substantial potential to enhance traditional equipment and address capability gaps.”
With the rapid development of unmanned equipment, challenges have emerged around managing civilian unmanned devices and countering military unmanned systems, spurring the rise of counter-unmanned equipment research.
For instance, various weapons systems, including the HQ-16FE, LY-70, and FB-10A, were displayed at the airshow, forming a multi-layered defense against unmanned threats, covering medium-range, short-range, and terminal defense.
Additionally, the counter-drone swarm combat system adopts an “offensive-defense” approach, employing “unmanned vs. unmanned” and “swarm vs. swarm” tactics. These systems can operate independently or integrate with existing land-based air defense systems, suitable for scenarios such as mobile warfare, urban combat, and key area defense.
“If ground forces lack counter-drone capabilities, they will struggle on the battlefield,” Cheng Ziheng noted. He further explained that counter-drone modules have almost become standard for all main battle equipment, with regular forces now required to study counter-drone operations as a core course. From protecting their own equipment to safeguarding entire units, to using complete counter-drone systems to secure vast areas, the development of counter-drone equipment holds significant potential across related fields.
At the 15th China International Aviation & Aerospace Exhibition held in Zhuhai, a range of advanced domestically produced drones and counter-drone equipment was prominently showcased.
This is a photo taken on November 12th of the Twin-Tailed Scorpion B large twin-engine fixed-wing UAV system. (Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Deng Hua)
This is a photo taken on November 13th of the “Jiutian” UAV system. (Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Deng Hua)
This is a photo taken on November 13th of the WZ-7 drone. (Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Deng Hua)
Golden Eagle CR500M UAV
This is a photo taken on November 13th of the Golden Eagle CR500M unmanned helicopter system exhibited by China North Industries Group. (Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Deng Hua)
On November 13th, visitors view a model of the ASN-Y800 heavy-load transport UAV system. (Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Lu Hanxin)
