China successfully tests world's largest unmanned transport drone
What's the story
China has successfully tested the world's largest unmanned transport drone, which can carry a payload of 1.5 tons, the state-run China Daily reported on Wednesday.
A large commercial drone Feihong-98 (FH-98) developed and modified by the China Academy of Aerospace Electronics Technology made a successful test flight at Baotou test site in North China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region on Tuesday, it reported.
Here's more.
Feihong-98
Feihong-98 adapted from 'Shifei Y5B', China's first domestically-built transport aircraft
"Feihong-98" (FH-98) is now the world's largest unmanned transport aircraft, with a maximum payload of up to 1.5 tons, official media reported.
It was adapted from the prototype of the "Shifei Y5B", a China-developed transport plane.
As China's first fully domestically-built transport aircraft, the Shifei Y5B has a history of over 60 years since its first flight in 1957 and has been widely used.
Details
China making rapid development in Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Focusing on its details, the FH-98 has a maximum takeoff weight of 5.25 tons, a maximum capacity of 1.5 tons and 15 cubic meters, a flight height of 4,500 meters, a cruising speed of 180 kilometers per hour, and a maximum range of 1,200 kilometers, the report said.
China has been making rapid advances in the development of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles.
China-Pakistan
China to sell multi-role Chinese drones to Pakistan: Media reports
According to Liu Meixuan, President of the China Academy of Aerospace Electronics Technology (CAAET), the FH-98 features simple take-off and landing, simple operation, and advanced technology at an affordable cost.
On October 9 this year, state media reported that China will sell 48 of its Wing Loong II high-end reconnaissance and multi-role Chinese drones to its all-weather ally Pakistan.