AI autonomy and endurance of China’s Rainbow-9 drone expected to change unmanned warfare

foraa754@gmail.comMarch 31, 2025

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AI autonomy and endurance of China’s Rainbow-9 drone expected to change unmanned warfare

China is drawing attention to the AI-enabled autonomy and long-range versatility of its most advanced Rainbow drone, advances that signal a shift in the future of unmanned warfare, according to a military analyst.

State broadcaster CCTV this month aired footage of the Caihong-9 (Rainbow-9) – China’s latest medium-to-high altitude, long-endurance drone – during a public flight trial at an airfield in northern Shaanxi.

The televised segment, which was part of a broader programme on Chinese defence innovation, marked the drone’s first public appearance since last year’s Zhuhai air show, offering new insights into its endurance, systems integration and strike potential.

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According to CCTV, the Rainbow-9 completed a continuous flight lasting more than 20 hours while carrying next-generation aviation payload pods.

“This test not only assesses its performance but significantly enhances its future mission capabilities,” the broadcaster said in a programme aired on March 14.

Song Zhongping, a former PLA instructor and military analyst, said that integrating AI into the Rainbow-9 would “substantially boost its combat effectiveness and support capabilities across various missions”.

Song said the Rainbow-9 could control multiple drones simultaneously which could significantly expand both its operational radius and reconnaissance coverage.

foraa754@gmail.comMarch 31, 2025

0 0 1 minute read