Chinese drone company Ziyan Technology has successfully completed a real-world flight test of its heavy-lift cargo drone, the Grey Whale G1, verifying the platform's long-range transport capability using an onboard winch system under operational conditions.

The Grey Whale G1 is a really cool-looking cargo delivery UAV specifically designed to solve the problem of accessing difficult-to-reach locations such as mountainous regions, islands, and high-altitude areas.

With the ability to perform VTOL operations from a low logistical footprint, it is ideal for transporting emergency and medical supplies, engineering materials, and spare parts, and can land under challenging conditions that other platforms are unable to handle.

The versatile platform can lift cargo as heavy as 15kg and supports both cargo box and sling transport modes. The modular fuselage can be quickly dismantled and the landing gear folded for easier transportation.

The Grey Whale G1 is equipped with a built-in parachute system for safe emergency landings.

In the latest test, the Grey Whale G1 carried a 10kg payload via winch-based lifting and achieved a verified flight distance of 33 kilometers. All key performance parameters, including payload stability, flight endurance, and system reliability, were recorded throughout the mission, providing measurable validation of the aircraft's transport performance.

The winch-based configuration enables flexible payload handling without the need for landing, making the Grey Whale G1 particularly suitable for logistics resupply, emergency delivery, and complex transport missions in constrained or inaccessible environments. Stable flight performance was maintained throughout the mission despite the external load.

“This successful test reflects ZIYAN's continued focus on field-verified performance, ensuring that system capabilities are demonstrated through real operational scenarios rather than theoretical specifications,” the company said in a statement.

“The Grey Whale G1 is designed to deliver reliable payload endurance where it matters most—in the field.”

The drone also boasts of the below features: