The Aerospace Information Research Institute  under the Chinese Academy of Sciences (AIRCAS) was established in 2019 through the merger of three CAS institutes: the Institute of Electronics (IECAS), the Institute of Remote Sensing and Digital Earth (RADI), and the Academy of Opto-Electronics (AOE). This merger brought together decades of research excellence, positioning AIR as a leading force in the field of aerospace information science and technology.

Backed by 31 national and CAS-level laboratories and research centers, AIRCAS has developed a full-chain research system spanning remote sensing platforms, optic/microwave payloads, core devices, global satellite receiving ground station network, next-generation ground system, remote sensing applications, Digital Earth, and BeiDou navigation and positioning technologies.

As of 2025, AIRCAS is home to over 4,500 staff members, including five CAS Academicians, one CAE Academician, more than 300 researchers and senior engineers, and over 100 nationally recognized high-level talents.

We are deeply committed to integrating scientific research with higher education. Through our two affiliated schools under the University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (UCAS)—the School of Electronic, Electrical and Communication Engineering, and the School of Opto-electronics—we are training over 1,900 postgraduate students, nurturing the next generation of scientific leaders.

AIRCAS actively engages in international cooperation, maintaining close partnerships with organizations and research institutions in over 90 countries. We also host and manage several international platforms, including the International Centre on Space Technologies for Natural and Cultural Heritage (HIST) under the auspices of UNESCO, the International Society for Digital Earth (ISDE), the International Program Office for Integrated Research on Disaster Risk (IRDR), and the CAS-TWAS Centre of Excellence on Space Technology for Disaster Mitigation (SDIM).

In 2021, we established the International Research Center of Big Data for Sustainable Development Goals (CBAS) to advance interdisciplinary research supporting the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Looking ahead, AIRCAS will continue to strengthen collaboration with partners worldwide, driving innovation in aerospace information science and contributing to the shared vision of global sustainable development.