China's homegrown 'unmanned flying truck' completes maiden flight

China's independently developed HH-200 commercial unmanned aerial transport system successfully completed its maiden flight in Pucheng County, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, on Wednesday.

Developed by Aviation Industry Corporation of China, the HH-200 system consists of both the unmanned aircraft and its ground control system. During the 22-minute flight, the aircraft maintained stable attitude with all onboard systems operated normally, and all planned flight tasks were successfully completed.

The aircraft can carry a maximum payload of 1.5 tonnes and has a maximum range of 2,360 kilometers. Its cargo compartment has a standard volume of 12 cubic meters, which can be expanded to 14 or 18 cubic meters depending on operational requirements. Its low-throughput cargo design enables a seamless interface with conventional loading equipment such as forklifts, allowing two operators to load or unload cargo in just five minutes.

It boasts strong environmental adaptability and is capable of carrying out missions from short runways, at high plateaus, in extreme heat or cold and under challenging weather conditions.

The system will undergo further fight tests. Once entering commercial service, it will be used for diverse missions, including emergency rescue, aerial remote sensing, and agricultural and forestry operations.