China is making significant strides in developing its low-altitude economy. Recently, it tested cargo drones capable of carrying payloads of up to 2 tonnes and helicopter taxis on a 100-kilometer route to Shanghai. 

Earlier this week, a twin-engine cargo drone developed by Sichuan Tengden Sci-tech Innovation Co, a state-funded enterprise, took off in southwestern Sichuan province for its maiden flight. According to state media reports, the drone, which has a wingspan of 16.1 meters (52.8 feet) and a height of 4.6 meters (15 feet), completed a successful 20-minute flight.

As the world’s leading drone manufacturer, China is pushing the boundaries of drone technology by testing increasingly larger payloads. The country is also planning to implement both manned and unmanned air taxi services as it relaxes airspace restrictions and offers incentives to build a robust low-altitude economy.

China’s aviation regulator anticipates this sector to grow into a 2-trillion-yuan ($279 billion) industry by 2030, marking a fourfold increase from 2023 levels.

The Tengden drone’s successful trial follows the maiden flight of a cargo drone developed by the state-owned Aviation Industry Corp of China (AVIC) in June. The AVIC’s HH-100 drone, with a payload capacity of 700 kilograms (1,543 pounds) and a flight radius of 520 kilometers, represents a significant step forward in drone cargo capabilities.

AVIC plans to test its largest cargo drone, the TP2000, next year. The TP2000 is expected to carry up to 2 tonnes of cargo and fly four times farther than the HH-100.