Unmanned cargo plane undergoes debut test in Qingdao

A large, unmanned cargo plane developed by Yitong UAV System made its debut flight on Saturday in Qingdao, Shandong province.

A prototype of the TP1000 drone took off and then landed at Laixi Dianbu Airport in Qingdao, spending 26 minutes in the air to check the model's flight stability, maneuverability and power systems. The test results were satisfactory, testifying to the reliability of designs, the company said in a news release.

The TP1000 measures nearly 11 meters long with a wingspan of about 15 meters. It has a takeoff weight of 3.3 metric tons, a payload capacity of 1 ton, a maximum range of 1,000 kilometers when fully loaded and a 7-cubic-meter cargo bay.

The pilotless plane features a modular configuration, long flight range, large carrying capacity and low operational costs, according to the company.

Yitong UAV System, a private drone maker in Yantai, Shandong, aims to obtain an airworthiness certification for the TP1000 later this year, with commercial operations expected to begin in 2026 after regulatory approval, it said.

Yitong added that 30 TP1000s have been ordered. Buyers include delivery company ZTO Express and general-aviation firm Jiangsu Yajie Aviation Development Group.

The TP1000 is equipped with a large rear cargo door, enabling intelligent airdrop for material delivery and emergency rescue in various scenarios, Science and Technology Daily reported on Monday.

"In addition to transporting goods, the TP1000 can be quickly modified according to customer needs for marine monitoring, scientific exploration, resource development and regional infrastructure projects due to its excellent flight performance, load capacity and lower operating costs," the newspaper quoted Yitong's General Manager Jin Ge as saying.

By the end of this year, the company hopes to establish an annual production capacity of 100 large drones, he told the newspaper.