View of Tianma-1000 unmanned transport drone. Photo: CCTV

China's domestically developed ton-class unmanned transport aircraft Tianma-1000 completed its maiden flight on Sunday, the Xinhua News Agency reported. The drone was independently developed by China North Industries Group Corp-affiliated Xi'an Aisheng Technology Group Co. 

Integrating functions such as logistics transport, emergency rescue, and material delivery, China's first medium-altitude, low-cost transport platform has achieved high-altitude complex terrain adaptation, ultra-short take-off and landing distances, and rapid switching between cargo transport and airdrop modes.

The aircraft boasts a maximum payload of 1 ton and a maximum range of 1,800 kilometers. It can also switch quickly via a modular cargo bay, flexibly converting into a material delivery platform to meet diverse mission requirements.

The aircraft's payload capacity is equivalent to the weight of a standard sedan, allowing it to transport a large volume of supplies in a single flight. In scenarios such as resupplying remote areas, emergency rescue, and urgent material transfers, it can conduct large-scale deliveries, meeting several days' worth of critical needs such as food, medicine, and equipment, helping address material transport challenges in some special terrains.

Global Times