China tests ‘world’s heaviest cargo drone’ suited to high-altitude and island operations
Designed for both military and civilian use, it has 7-tonne take-off weight and is the world’s heaviest cargo drone in full-scale flight
China has conducted the maiden flight of the Changying-8, which it says is the world’s heaviest multi-terrain cargo drone with the potential for military applications.
According to state broadcaster CCTV, the drone successfully completed its maiden flight on Tuesday morning at an airport in Zhengzhou in Henan province, central China.
01:13
World’s largest cargo drone completes maiden flight in China
It took off after a brief 280-metre (919-foot) taxi and landed after a 30-minute flight. The test flight validated the CY-8’s intelligent flight control, avionics, power and fuel systems, and flight performance, the broadcaster said.
According to CCTV, the CY-8 is the world’s heaviest cargo drone to date. It said the aircraft – dubbed “unmanned aerial heavy truck” – weighed 3.5 tonnes and had a matching payload capacity, for a take-off weight of 7 tonnes.
The drone is 17 metres long and has a wingspan of 25 metres. It features an 18-cubic metre (636-cubic foot) fully enclosed cargo bay with front and rear doors allowing for the efficient loading – taking as little as 15 minutes – and unloading of cargo, according to the state broadcaster.
According to its developer, Norinco affiliate Beijing Northern Changying UAV Technology, the drone is designed for both military and civilian use.
CCTV said the CY-8 could be quickly equipped with different mission payloads and flexibly switched to functions such as emergency communications, weather modification and electronic reconnaissance, achieving integrated military and civilian applications.