China's Changying-8 unmanned cargo aircraft completes maiden

ZHENGZHOU, March 31 (Xinhua) -- Changying-8 cargo unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) successfully completed its maiden flight at an airport in Zhengzhou, central China's Henan Province, on Tuesday.

The fixed-wing cargo UAV is developed by Beijing Beifang Changying UAV Technology Co., Ltd. and is China's first 7-tonne-class cargo UAV platform validated through flight test.

The Changying-8 cargo UAV has an ultra-large cargo compartment with a volume of 18 cubic meters, a maximum takeoff weight of 7 tonnes, and a maximum payload capacity of 3.5 tonnes.

It can accommodate diverse loading requirements, including conventional supplies, fresh and cold-chain goods, and emergency equipment. The aircraft boasts a maximum range exceeding 3,000 kilometers.

The cargo UAV features breakthroughs in efficient transportation, flexible adaptability, and all-domain operations, providing equipment support for the development of the low-altitude economy and the construction of emergency response systems.

It can be deployed in scenarios such as long-distance logistics transport, emergency rescue delivery, border-area supply, and operations in complex terrain.