According to China Central Television (CCTV), this twin-engine aircraft has a wingspan of 16.1 meters, is 4.6 meters high, has a cargo compartment of 12 cubic meters, and a payload capacity of 2 tons.

"This is the largest unmanned cargo aircraft entirely developed and designed by China to meet the needs of the domestic market," the report said.

During the test in Zigong, southwest Sichuan Province, “The systems all operated stably. In addition, the aircraft is designed to be easy to load and unload, while also providing high reliability, safety and intelligence.”

The aircraft will operate in "low altitude airspace", the space 1,000 meters above the ground.

The low-altitude sector encompasses a wide range of activities involving manned and unmanned civil aircraft, including passenger transport, cargo delivery, manufacturing, low-altitude flights and integrated services.

China has placed high hopes on its “low-end economy” becoming a spearhead of advanced manufacturing. To that end, it has pushed to upgrade its logistics and transport infrastructure. The transition will involve phasing out older vehicles like trucks, ships and trains and replacing them with modern models or alternatives like drones.

Zhao Chongjiu, director general of the State Post, said last month that China's air express delivery services have increased, with active participation of parties in the exploitation of drones and automated warehouses.

Song Zhiyong, director of the Civil Aviation Administration of China, revealed that 14,000 companies were granted drone operating licenses in the past month, while licenses were also issued to 225,000 individuals.

The Chinese government says the “low-end economy” reached 500 billion yuan (about $69.7 billion) last year and is expected to reach 2 trillion yuan by 2030.

In June, the HH-100 prototype, a commercial cargo drone, made its first flight. The aircraft has a payload capacity of 700 kg and a range of 520 km.

In 2022, a heavy-lift drone developed in China successfully transported 300 kilograms of construction materials to a construction site in Yunnan Province for power infrastructure, according to China Global Television Network. This was the first time a drone had transported construction materials at high altitudes in the country.

Ha Trang (according to SCMP)