China’s Largest Unmanned Cargo Aircraft Takes Flight
China’s largest unmanned transport aircraft completed its maiden flight, marking a major milestone in the nation’s low-altitude economy. The UAV, with a payload capacity of 2 tons, is set to revolutionize cargo transport.
Photo Source: The Sun
China has reached a new milestone in aviation with the successful maiden flight of its largest domestically produced twin-engine unmanned transport aircraft. The test flight, conducted in Zigong, Sichuan Province, marks a significant step forward in China’s rapidly advancing low-altitude economy, which is being fueled by robust policy support and cutting-edge technological innovation.
This state-of-the-art UAV boasts a wingspan of 16.1 meters, a height of 4.6 meters, and a payload capacity of up to 2 tons. It is designed with advanced features, including easy loading and unloading, high-level safety, and intelligent control systems, making it well-suited for a variety of cargo transport applications.
The 20-minute flight at Zigong Fengming Airport successfully validated the aircraft’s systems, demonstrating the UAV’s readiness for operational deployment. This achievement builds on China’s recent advancements in the low-altitude sector, including the successful test flight of a ton-class electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft that crossed the Yangtze River earlier this month.
China’s low-altitude economy, identified as a key growth engine, is expected to surpass 1 trillion yuan by 2026. The sector has already seen significant growth, with the market expanding by 33.8 percent in 2023, reaching 505.95 billion yuan ($70.59 billion). The continued development of unmanned aerial vehicles underscores China’s commitment to high-quality growth through intelligent logistics and low-altitude operations.
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