Zongheng CW-100 Drone Serves as Core Communications Asset at China's 'Emergency Mission 2026' National Flood-Control Drill

On June 17, 2026, China's Ministry of Emergency Management and Hubei Provincial Government jointly staged 'Emergency Mission 2026'—a large-scale flood-control and disaster-response exercise held in Shishou, Jingzhou, Hubei Province. The drill targeted the four critical challenges commonly encountered during major river flood operations: breach plugging, communications blackouts, supply disruptions, and route restoration.

A total of 43 rescue teams were mobilized, deploying more than 1,300 units of emergency response equipment. The exercise focused on handling the so-called 'triple-cut' extreme scenario—simultaneous loss of network connectivity, road access, and power supply—providing a comprehensive test of integrated, full-domain flood-response capabilities.

Zongheng Aerotech's CW-100 medium composite-wing (fixed-wing VTOL) drone was selected as the primary aerial communications platform for this national-level exercise. Operating in conjunction with a crewed airship, the CW-100 formed a high-low altitude layered relay communications cluster, re-establishing the command information lifeline under complete infrastructure blackout conditions.

CW-100 Takes on Aerial Communications Role

With ground base stations disabled and all communications severed, disaster zones effectively became 'information islands,' preventing rescue commands from being issued and cutting off distress calls from affected residents.

The CW-100 was equipped with an onboard satellite communication system alongside both public and dedicated emergency network communication modules, rapidly establishing a tri-layer air-space-ground emergency communications framework. Satellite links bypassed terrain obstacles such as mountains and buildings, enabling stable transmission of ground control commands even in environments without power, road access, or network connectivity. The system is also compatible with China's national dedicated emergency network, ensuring lossless relay of rescue voice commands. Simultaneously, the drone provided comprehensive 4G/5G signal coverage to fill gaps in affected areas, ensuring distress messages from disaster survivors could get through.

By combining multiple communication modes, the CW-100 comprehensively resolved on-site communications failure, guaranteed efficient uplink and downlink of command instructions, and reinforced the emergency communications chain.

Beyond communications, the CW-100 performed full-area aerial reconnaissance with real-time video downlink, cross-regional relay networking, and high-precision inspection of levee conditions. Its operational advantages—including reliable performance, long endurance, high wind resistance, and multi-payload integration—made it well-suited to the complex conditions of large-scale flooding along the Yangtze River basin, positioning the drone as an aerial information hub in extreme disaster scenarios.

Three Years of Localized Service in Hubei Strengthening Flood Defenses

Provincial-Scale Procurement

In 2024, Hubei Province's Department of Emergency Management procured 11 CW-100 units through a centralized purchasing process. The drones were strategically deployed across the province to build a drone-based emergency response network covering the full length of the Yangtze River corridor in Hubei.

Three Years of Around-the-Clock On-Site Operations Support

Zongheng Aerotech's professional technical team has been permanently stationed in Hubei, maintaining 7×24 year-round readiness. Activities include routine equipment maintenance, personnel training, and pre-flood season rehearsals, ensuring the fleet can be scrambled and deployed immediately when an emergency arises.

Sustained Real-World Operational Deployment

Over the past three years, the CW-100 has been continuously employed across Hubei in flood season patrols, geological hazard surveys, forest fire monitoring, and pre-positioned emergency drills. Both platform performance and supporting services have been refined through countless real-world field applications.

From serving as a routine provincial emergency reserve asset to playing a central aerial role in the national 'Emergency Mission' comprehensive exercise, Zongheng Aerotech has remained on the front lines of China's emergency response efforts. The company says it will continue to develop low-altitude emergency response capabilities and contribute to building a more resilient national disaster prevention and mitigation system.

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