China's TP1000 Unmanned Transport Aircraft Completes Maiden Flight
The new tonne-class UAV marks a significant advancement in China's unmanned aviation sector.
On March 17, 2023, China's TP1000, a domestically developed tonne-class unmanned transport aircraft, successfully completed its maiden flight in Shandong Province.
Manufactured by Yi-Tong UAV System Co., Ltd, the aircraft flew for 26 minutes from an airport in Yantai, demonstrating stable performance that confirms its design and operational reliability.
The TP1000 is designed as a large cargo drone following China's civil aviation airworthiness regulations.
It has a payload capacity of 1,000 kilograms and boasts a maximum range of 1,000 kilometers when fully loaded.
The aircraft features a spacious 7-cubic-meter cargo bay and a total takeoff weight of 3.3 tonnes.
Its design includes a twin-engine modular setup and a self-developed multi-redundant flight control system, providing significant advantages in endurance, payload capacity, and operational cost efficiency.
A noteworthy characteristic of the TP1000 is its large rear cargo door, which facilitates intelligent airdrop capabilities for transporting materials and conducting emergency rescues under various conditions.
According to Jin Ge, General Manager of Yi-Tong, apart from goods transportation, the TP1000 can be swiftly modified to meet specific customer needs for applications including marine monitoring, scientific exploration, resource development, and regional infrastructure projects due to its superior flight performance and economical operation.
Yi-Tong aims to secure airworthiness certification for the TP1000 by late 2025, with commercial operations projected to commence in 2026, pending regulatory approvals.
Jin highlighted that the successful launch of the TP1000 enhances their product range, which is focused on fixed-wing and vertical takeoff composite-wing drones.
The TP1000 joins the company's existing fleet, which includes the TP500 model, capable of carrying 500 kilograms and having successfully completed its test flights in February 2025 within the new certification phase.
Additionally, the TR100, another product with a payload capacity of 150 kilograms, has entered the trial operation stage.
Jin noted that the TP1000 provides substantial advancements over the TP500, particularly in payload and range, addressing the increasing demand for low-altitude logistics solutions.
The company has secured 30 orders from clients, notably including ZTO Express.
This development aligns with China's broader strategy to promote growth in its low-altitude economy, identified as a significant sector for future expansion.
The Yantai Huang-Bohai New Area is becoming a center for unmanned aerial vehicle research and development, attracting numerous enterprises and research institutions involved in drone production and core component manufacturing.
Yi-Tong has established a production line spanning 4,000 square meters within this area and is in the process of developing a UAV industrial park covering over 20,000 square meters.
By the conclusion of 2025, the company intends to achieve an annual production capacity of 100 large UAVs, supporting the creation of a comprehensive industrial ecosystem to position Yantai as a national-level UAV industrial hub.
Manufactured by Yi-Tong UAV System Co., Ltd, the aircraft flew for 26 minutes from an airport in Yantai, demonstrating stable performance that confirms its design and operational reliability.
The TP1000 is designed as a large cargo drone following China's civil aviation airworthiness regulations.
It has a payload capacity of 1,000 kilograms and boasts a maximum range of 1,000 kilometers when fully loaded.
The aircraft features a spacious 7-cubic-meter cargo bay and a total takeoff weight of 3.3 tonnes.
Its design includes a twin-engine modular setup and a self-developed multi-redundant flight control system, providing significant advantages in endurance, payload capacity, and operational cost efficiency.
A noteworthy characteristic of the TP1000 is its large rear cargo door, which facilitates intelligent airdrop capabilities for transporting materials and conducting emergency rescues under various conditions.
According to Jin Ge, General Manager of Yi-Tong, apart from goods transportation, the TP1000 can be swiftly modified to meet specific customer needs for applications including marine monitoring, scientific exploration, resource development, and regional infrastructure projects due to its superior flight performance and economical operation.
Yi-Tong aims to secure airworthiness certification for the TP1000 by late 2025, with commercial operations projected to commence in 2026, pending regulatory approvals.
Jin highlighted that the successful launch of the TP1000 enhances their product range, which is focused on fixed-wing and vertical takeoff composite-wing drones.
The TP1000 joins the company's existing fleet, which includes the TP500 model, capable of carrying 500 kilograms and having successfully completed its test flights in February 2025 within the new certification phase.
Additionally, the TR100, another product with a payload capacity of 150 kilograms, has entered the trial operation stage.
Jin noted that the TP1000 provides substantial advancements over the TP500, particularly in payload and range, addressing the increasing demand for low-altitude logistics solutions.
The company has secured 30 orders from clients, notably including ZTO Express.
This development aligns with China's broader strategy to promote growth in its low-altitude economy, identified as a significant sector for future expansion.
The Yantai Huang-Bohai New Area is becoming a center for unmanned aerial vehicle research and development, attracting numerous enterprises and research institutions involved in drone production and core component manufacturing.
Yi-Tong has established a production line spanning 4,000 square meters within this area and is in the process of developing a UAV industrial park covering over 20,000 square meters.
By the conclusion of 2025, the company intends to achieve an annual production capacity of 100 large UAVs, supporting the creation of a comprehensive industrial ecosystem to position Yantai as a national-level UAV industrial hub.
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