Shenyang YS-1 Drone

Full Specifications

Shenyang YS-1 Stealth Recon & Strike UAV

The Shenyang YS-1 is a new Chinese unmanned aircraft shown publicly in 2025 as a high-speed stealth drone built for reconnaissance, precision strike, electronic support, and decoy tasks. It was presented by Shenyang Aircraft Corporation at a recent air show and represents a tactical addition to China’s unmanned fleet. The design merges a low radar signature with high subsonic performance and agile handling suitable for operations in contested airspace.

The YS-1 measures roughly 4.5 meters long with a wingspan near 2 meters and weighs about 260 kilograms at takeoff. Cruising speed varies with profile and altitude but sits between 550 and 1,000 kilometers per hour, placing the drone at the upper edge of subsonic performance for its class. It can fly at altitudes from 5,000 to 10,000 meters, giving it access to broad surveillance envelopes while keeping it outside some short-range threats.

Operational range is near 500 kilometers with about one hour of endurance on a single sortie. Navigation and control use integrated Beidou and GPS satellite positioning with a backup inertial navigation system to maintain accuracy when signals are weak or denied. Automated mission planning supports complex three-dimensional profiles with multiple waypoints to tailor flights to specific target areas.

Payload capacity of about 30 kilograms supports a mix of sensors, warheads, electronic warfare modules, decoy emitters, and small aperture radar tools. This flexibility lets operators switch roles during deployment, from deep recon missions to limited precision strike and electronic support operations. The stealth-oriented shape and small radar cross section help reduce detectability during ingress and egress, while the airframe is stressed to handle up to 6G for maneuvering.

Despite its size, the YS-1’s modular payload bay and agile flight profile make it suited to modern tactical missions where early warning and quick action matter. It fills a niche between loitering munitions and larger recon drones, bringing rapid, survivable unmanned capability to frontline units.