Abstract: Compared with conventional fixed-wing airfoils, rotor airfoils have some particular characteristics. The angle-of-attack and velocity of rotor airfoils vary in a wide range during advancing flights, so the rotor airfoil design should make a comprehensive trade off. This article, which focuses on conventional and high-speed helicopters with new configurations, analyzes the design requirements of rotor airfoils under different flight conditions. The development and application of advanced rotor airfoils are also summarized. The characteristics and development trends of rotor airfoil aerodynamic performance are analyzed by taking OA and TsAGI airfoils for example. Moreover, the rotor airfoil technology development status is introduced from the aspects of rotor airfoil design criteria decomposition, dynamic aerodynamic characteristics computation and test, and aerodynamic optimization design. The future developing prospect of rotor airfoil technology is predicted at last.