China has completed the first flight of the TP1000 drone, an unmanned aerial vehicle designed for cargo transport.
With a payload capacity of 1 ton and a range of 1,000 km, this is the most advanced transport drone developed in China.
The first flight of a super-drone
The TP1000 drone completed its first flight on Saturday in Qingdao, Shandong province, for 26 minutes without any issues.
With a maximum takeoff weight of 3.3 tons and a modular design, it surpasses all previous models of transport drones in China.
The TP1000 exclusively uses internally developed technologies and is intended for both commercial and military applications.
"In addition to cargo transport, the TP1000 can be quickly modified according to customer needs and used for ocean monitoring, scientific research and exploration, resource exploitation, and regional infrastructure projects," said Jin Ge, the company's CEO, as quoted by South China Morning Post
An expanding sector
China is heavily investing in developing the low-altitude aerial market, estimated at 670 billion yuan (92.6 billion dollars) in 2024 and projected to reach 1 trillion yuan by 2026.
In June, a prototype of another commercial drone, HH-100, with a payload capacity of 700 kg and a range of 520 km, made its first flight in Xian, the capital of Shaanxi province in northwest China.
In addition to its high payload capacity and long range, the TP1000 is equipped with a range of useful features, including a modular design for quick assembly and disassembly, a large opening at the rear for smart delivery operations, and compatibility with standard pallets for quick loading.
The drone has already attracted market interest, with several Chinese companies placing orders for 30 units.
D.D.