China tests huge transport drone capable of airlifting over 1 ton of goods

China’s first unmanned transport aircraft capable of hauling over 1 ton of goods has completed its maiden flight and is expected to enter into commercial operation next year.

The TP1000, built by a local state-owned enterprise, took off for the first time on Saturday in Qingdao, the capital of eastern China’s Shandong province, according to a website run by the Civil Aviation Administration of China.

The huge device has a greater capacity and longer range than any previous transport drone in China, with a maximum take-off weight of 3.3 tons, a payload of up to 1 ton, and a full-load range of 1,000km (621 miles).

The maiden flight lasted 26 minutes and went smoothly, with all the TP1000’s parameters staying within their optimal ranges, the report stated.