Designed with ease of loading and unloading, as well as high reliability and safety standards, the drone is expected to play a key role in expanding air cargo transport across China. The aircraft's high level of intelligence is anticipated to drive the creation of a new type of smart logistics within the low-altitude economy, a sector projected to be worth $279 billion by 2030, according to China's aviation regulator.
The test flight, which took place over the weekend in southwestern Sichuan province, lasted approximately 20 minutes. This milestone comes as part of China's broader efforts to develop and deploy larger payload drones. The test follows the June debut of another cargo drone developed by the state-owned Aviation Industry Corp of China (AVIC). The AVIC's HH-100 drone, with a payload capacity of 700 kilograms and a flight range of 520 kilometers, was a precursor to the company's upcoming TP2000 drone, expected to be tested next year. The TP2000 is designed to carry up to 2 metric tons and has a flight range four times greater than the HH-100.
China is already utilizing drones for commercial deliveries. In May, Phoenix Wings, a subsidiary of SF Express, began transporting fresh fruit from Hainan to Guangdong using Fengzhou-90 drones. These drones, developed by SF Express's parent company, S.F. Holding, are part of a growing trend toward reducing delivery times and costs while extending reach to urban rooftops and other hard-to-access areas.
As the industry evolves, these cargo drones are also expected to be adapted for passenger transport, potentially transforming urban mobility with drone taxi services.
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