China's amphibious drone pioneers river ops, boosts low-altitude economy

China's "Hunjianglong" amphibious drone made history on March 26 in southwest China's Chengdu City by taking off and landing on a river. Developed by Sichuan Tengden Science and Technology, the UAV represents a major step forward in low-altitude economy applications. 

With a wingspan of 12.4 meters, a max takeoff weight of 650 kg and a range of 2,800 km, the "Hunjianglong" can fly for 16 hours and carry a load of up to 200 kg. Designed for short takeoffs and landings on water, roads and grassy terrain, it reduces reliance on traditional runways. Potential applications include emergency rescue, forest fire monitoring, river patrols and weather modification. Industry analysts believe the drone has the potential to revolutionize low-altitude economic development, especially in remote or challenging areas.