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South China Morning Post

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. Advertisement 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. 02:26 China's biggest air show in Zhuhai features new fighter jets and helicopters China's biggest air show in Zhuhai features new fighter jets and helicopters 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'. Advertisement Song said the Rainbow-9 could control multiple drones simultaneously which could significantly expand both its operational radius and reconnaissance coverage.