Images circulating on Chinese social media appear to show a full-scale version of the COMAC CE-25A, a 19-seat all-electric aircraft concept unveiled by the Chinese manufacturer in 2023.
The photographs show a red-and-black aircraft parked on an airfield, bearing COMAC markings, the CE-25A designation and the registration B-0EFH. Its most distinctive feature is an array of ten ducted fans, arranged in groups of five on either side of the fuselage.
The authenticity of the images has not been independently established. While they could depict an actual aircraft or a full-scale mock-up, the possibility of digital alterations cannot be ruled out. It is also unclear when and where the photographs were taken.
COMAC has not publicly confirmed whether a full-scale demonstrator has been completed or whether the aircraft shown has flown.
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Electric aircraft project dates back to 2023
COMAC publicly introduced the CE-25A at the China International Import Expo in Shanghai in November 2023, presenting it as a 19-seat electric commuter aircraft intended for short- and medium-distance passenger services and business aviation.
According to specifications released at the time, the aircraft is designed for a range of approximately 250 to 310 miles (400 to 500 km) and a maximum cruising speed of around 249 mph (400 km/h).
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Unlike conventional commuter aircraft powered by turboprop engines, the CE-25A uses a distributed electric propulsion concept, with ten electrically driven ducted fans integrated into the wings.
During the 2023 presentation, COMAC indicated that the project had already completed experimental flight verification using a scaled demonstrator. Those tests did not establish that a full-sized aircraft had flown.
Uncertain development prospects
The CE-25A is part of COMAC's research into alternative propulsion technologies, separate from its commercial aircraft programs, including the C919 narrowbody airliner and the C909 regional jet.
The Chinese manufacturer has also been involved in battery-powered aviation research alongside battery producer CATL and Shanghai Jiao Tong University. However, no specific connection between that cooperation and the CE-25A's energy storage system has been publicly established.
Battery energy density remains a major obstacle to all-electric passenger aircraft, particularly when combining commercially useful payloads with sufficient range and operational reserves.
Although the CE-25A has been presented as a potential commuter aircraft, there is no confirmed schedule for certification, production or entry into commercial service.
