The China Academy of Aerospace Aerodynamics, one of the country’s dominant unmanned aircraft manufacturers, has carried out the maiden flight of its new mid-range cargo drone.

The Beijing-based academy, a subsidiary of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp, said in a news release that the CH-YH1000 unmanned cargo aircraft made its first test flight from an unidentified airport in Northwest China and the test “achieved desired results” after the 15-minute operation.

According to the release, the model has a typical aerodynamic configuration widely used by transport drones. Goods are moved into and out of the aircraft from its nose, which can open upward. The underside can also open during the flight to airdrop cargoes.

The drone is a multi-purpose unmanned aerial platform designed for medium-altitude unmanned logistics operations.

Powered by two engines, the CH-YH1000 has a maximum take-off weight of 2.3 metric tons, including 1.2 tons of cargo, and an operational range of 1,500 kilometres.

It can stay airborne for as long as 10 hours and is capable of taking off and landing on short runways, poorly maintained roads and grasslands. When mounted with flotation and sled devices, it can also land and take off from water and snow-covered locations.

Additionally, when fitted with float kits, it can perform water landings, and with ski kits, it can operate on snowy terrain, significantly expanding the application scenarios of unmanned logistics aircraft, the drone maker said.

It can also carry four one-cubic-meter cargo pallets, with the capability to load and unloading cargos from its front and to drop cargos from its belly, enabling flexible logistics operations. Additionally, its six-kilowatt onboard power supply supports special mission equipment, meeting diverse operational demands.

The successful test flight was a key developmental milestone for the CH-YH1000 unmanned cargo aircraft since the start of the program a year ago, Aerospace CH UAV said in their statement.

The successful test flight came after the drone completed a full-load taxiing test under full working conditions in Zhanghe Airport in Jingmen, Central China’s Hubei Province in January.

One of the people who worked on developing the drone described it as a “pickup truck in the air,” whose objective was to achieve efficient air transportation at a reasonable cost, meet the logistics needs of remote areas, and solve the problem of high delivery fees and slow delivery time in regions such as Xizang and Xinjiang.

The drone can connect central cities with remote counties and townships, enabling low-cost, rapid cargo transport, addressing logistics challenges in remote central and western regions, the company said, noting that the aircraft is also capable of diverse delivery missions, demonstrating exceptional versatility.