China Tests First Cargo Drone Capable of Carrying 3-Tonne Payload
China has begun testing its first cargo drone, which boasts a payload capacity of 3 tonnes. The drone is designed to enhance logistics operations and improve delivery efficiency in various sectors. This initiative marks a significant step forward in the country's advancements in unmanned aerial vehicle technology.
TroibNews 
The Chinese aviation industry has achieved a significant breakthrough by successfully testing an unmanned civilian drone, capable of transporting up to 3.2 tonnes (3,200 kilograms) of cargo. This test is part of an ongoing trend where companies are developing increasingly larger drones to meet anticipated domestic needs.
The SA750U drone successfully carried out a test flight lasting 40 minutes at a specially designated drone testing facility in Xi'an City, the provincial capital of Shaanxi in northwest China, as reported by the official Hunan Daily on Friday.
This drone can reach altitudes up to 7,300 meters and cover distances up to 2,200 kilometers. It has a maximum takeoff weight of 7.5 tonnes and can cruise at speeds up to 308 kilometers per hour. The drone was developed by Hunan Shanhe Huayu Aviation Technology, a company located in Hunan Province in central China.
Key uses for the SA750U include regional air logistics, targeted unmanned deliveries, and firefighting operations in forests and grasslands.
As China relaxes restrictions on airspace and introduces policies to stimulate growth in the low-altitude sector, drone manufacturers are accelerating their testing processes. The country, which is a global leader in drone production, aims to expand this sector into a 2-trillion-yuan ($280 billion) industry by 2030, representing a fourfold increase from its current size in 2023.
The debut of the SA750U follows closely after another drone test by a Sichuan-based company, which featured a payload capacity of two tonnes, and a test by the state-owned Aviation Industry Corporation of China two months prior, which trialed a drone able to carry 700 kilograms.
Industry experts in China highlight the advantages of cargo drones, like faster delivery times and reduced transportation costs. These drones are also capable of operating in areas without traditional aviation infrastructure, such as rooftops in densely populated urban environments.
(With input from agencies. Cover via CFP.)
Max Fischer for TROIB News
The SA750U drone successfully carried out a test flight lasting 40 minutes at a specially designated drone testing facility in Xi'an City, the provincial capital of Shaanxi in northwest China, as reported by the official Hunan Daily on Friday.
This drone can reach altitudes up to 7,300 meters and cover distances up to 2,200 kilometers. It has a maximum takeoff weight of 7.5 tonnes and can cruise at speeds up to 308 kilometers per hour. The drone was developed by Hunan Shanhe Huayu Aviation Technology, a company located in Hunan Province in central China.
Key uses for the SA750U include regional air logistics, targeted unmanned deliveries, and firefighting operations in forests and grasslands.
As China relaxes restrictions on airspace and introduces policies to stimulate growth in the low-altitude sector, drone manufacturers are accelerating their testing processes. The country, which is a global leader in drone production, aims to expand this sector into a 2-trillion-yuan ($280 billion) industry by 2030, representing a fourfold increase from its current size in 2023.
The debut of the SA750U follows closely after another drone test by a Sichuan-based company, which featured a payload capacity of two tonnes, and a test by the state-owned Aviation Industry Corporation of China two months prior, which trialed a drone able to carry 700 kilograms.
Industry experts in China highlight the advantages of cargo drones, like faster delivery times and reduced transportation costs. These drones are also capable of operating in areas without traditional aviation infrastructure, such as rooftops in densely populated urban environments.
(With input from agencies. Cover via CFP.)
Max Fischer for TROIB News
