China’s Shenyang Sunny Aeronautics unveiled its new 1,000-kilometre 2-tonne payload freighter UAV, while announcing plans for it to be the first of a series of cargo drones carrying up to 10 tonnes of cargo. This comes after China’s 650 kg-payload Boying T1400 Tandem Rotor Unmanned Helicopter’s maiden flight.
China builds 2-tonne cargo UAV
The Chinese state-run news agency, China Daily, reported that China has completed the production of a 2-metric-tonne cargo drone called the SUNNY-T2000. The aircraft rolled off the production line in early December in the city of Shenyang in China’s northern Liaoning province.
The SUNNY-T2000 has been developed by China’s Shenyang Sunny Aeronautics and Space Adventure Co. It joins a chorus of new unmanned aircraft being unveiled in China and the United States, as well as other countries to varying degrees.
With a full payload, the aircraft has a range of over 1,000 kilometres and can operate on 800-metre runways. The company is targeting a market segment where road transport outcompetes traditional cargo transportation.
It is part of the Shenbei New District’s initiative to develop “low-altitude economy” aviation as an emerging industry. The goal is for Shenbei New District to become a national aviation cluster, pilot, and demonstration area for low-altitude aviation.
Shenyang Sunny Aeronautics says it “focuses on the application of UAVs, unmanned aerial equipment, light sport aircraft, and other low-altitude aerial vehicles.”
Love innovation and technology? Discover more of our stories here.
Intended role of the SUNNY-T2000
The article says the unmanned cargo aircraft marks a “significant step in boosting the logistics network for long-haul, regional, and last-mile delivery.”
He Jun, a professor at Shenyang Aerospace University and chairman of the Shenyang Sunny Aeronautics, said that it will connect with long-distance networks and reach remote areas and complex terrain.
The cargo drone is designed for a logistical role including “heavy hauling, regional transfer, and terminal coverage.” The company also says it can perform aerial cargo drops, a feature useful for emergency rescue and wildfire fighting missions.
The SUNNY-T2000 comes with a 15-cubic-metre rectangular-shaped cargo hold able to carry emergency supplies, industrial parts, agricultural products, and other cargo.
Plans for larger uncrewed heavy lift aircraft
Shenyang Sunny Aeronautics also sees the need for larger pilotless cargo aircraft. It announced that it is also working to develop a 6-tonne and 7-tonne cargo aircraft.
The 6-tonne aircraft is to be powered by the Chinese-built ATP120 turboprop engine. The 1,200-kilowatt ATP120 has been developed by China’s Harbin Dongan Civil Aviation Engine Co. (a subsidiary of AECC). It is designed to power general-aviation aircraft, trainer planes, and reconnaissance drones.
The much larger 6-tonne aircraft will have the cargo space equivalent to a 40GP standard container (around 67 cubic metres). It will serve the medium to short-haul heavy cargo transport.
Not only that, but the Chinese company has also begun development of a 10-tonne commercial cargo aircraft. It will target the heavy-load cross-regional, long-distance cargo transport market.
Shenyang Sunny Aeronautics is planning on a lineup of 2-tonne, 6-tonne, 7-tonne, and 10-tonne models for a multilevel logistics network. It is unclear if these cargo drones are intended to have military applications.
In the US, Beta Technologies has unveiled a military hybrid variant of its ALIA platform to transport cargo “the last mile.” The aircraft has a range of 370 kilometres (250 nautical miles) and a payload of 0.9 tonnes (2,000 lbs).
