The new unmanned aerial cargo launched by China has completed its first flight.
A prototype of China’s HH-100 unmanned aerial cargo system completed its first flight on Wednesday, according to the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC).
The HH-100 prototype had its first flight at a general aviation airport in Xi’an, located in northwest China’s Shaanxi Province, according to AVIC, the country’s top aircraft manufacturer.
The HH-100 was developed by AVIC XAC Commercial Aircraft Co., Ltd. in Xi’an, a subsidiary of AVIC in Shaanxi Province. It consists of two main components: an unmanned aerial vehicle and a ground-based command-and-control station.
During the flight, the demonstrator performed steadily and met all the test-flight requirements, with all its systems functioning properly, according to AVIC.
The HH-100 comes with several benefits, like being low-cost and having a high payload. It can take off with a maximum weight of 2,000 kilograms, carry up to 700 kilograms, and has a range of 520 kilometers when fully loaded, according to the developer.
The HH-100 can cruise at a top speed of 300 kilometers per hour and reach up to 5,000 meters in altitude. Designed for cargo, it can carry about 4 cubic meters of goods.
The developer says the HH-100 will be able to provide efficient and connected air-ground transportation.
Besides its role in regional air logistics, the HH-100 will also be able to assist with forest and grassland firefighting, deliver relief supplies, support emergency communications, and help with weather modification.
Aiming at the growing low-altitude economy, AVIC announced plans for a range of large, smart, affordable, and reliable commercial unmanned aerial transportation systems.