YH-1000 unmanned transport aircraft, developed by the China Academy of Aerospace Aerodynamics (CAAA) Photo: Courtesy of the craft's developers

YH-1000 unmanned transport aircraft, developed by the China Academy of Aerospace Aerodynamics (CAAA), successfully delivered cargo weighing approximately 400 kilograms and landed smoothly at the Chongqing Liangping Airport in Southwest China's Chongqing on Monday morning. The craft's developers told the Global Times on Tuesday that such event marked that the medium-to-large transport aircraft model has completed the full-process verification of "cargo transportation—cross-regional flight—autonomous return" in the complex mountainous terrain of the Yangtze River Basin for the first time.

This round of test flight was carried out on a 134-kilometer route from Liangping to Wulong in Chongqing, crossing five peaks over 1,000 meters in altitude and spanning the deeply incised Wujiang Canyon and the Yangtze River waterway, according to the development team and CAAA.

"This verification flight demonstrates that the YH-1000 has the technical foundation for commercial operations," said the project team leader. "Moving forward, we will continue with trial operations under policy permissions to inject new momentum into the thriving development of the low-altitude economy in western China."

Official data shows that the YH-1000 unmanned logistics aircraft boasts a range of 1,500 kilometers, a mission endurance of 10 hours, a service ceiling of 8,000 meters, and a payload capacity of 1,200 kilograms. It can carry four one-cubic-meter cargo pallets, with the capability to load and unloading cargos from its front and to drop cargos from its belly, enabling flexible logistics operations. Additionally, its six-kilowatt onboard power supply supports special mission equipment, meeting diverse operational demands.

Wang Ya'nan, chief editor of Beijing-based Aerospace Knowledge magazine, told the Global Times YH-1000 unmanned transport aircraft's verification flight was primarily conducted over water areas and mountainous terrain, requiring continuous adjustments to the flight angle. Given core considerations such as flight safety, the aircraft did not operate in full-load mode during the recent tests.

The success of this verification flight clearly demonstrates significant progress in China's unmanned aerial vehicle application technology, laying a solid foundation for subsequent mission flights, Wang noted.

The YH-1000 project was initiated in June 2024. The unmanned aircraft completed ground taxi tests in January 2025 and successfully conducted its first flight on May 22, 2025.

The YH-1000 cargo drone is a multi-purpose unmanned aerial platform designed for medium-altitude unmanned logistics operations. It features a classic cargo aircraft layout and a twin-engine design, equipped with mission-proven avionics from the CH drone series, ensuring strong anti-interference capabilities and high robustness, according to the ACCC.

With outstanding short takeoff and landing performance, and the ability to operate in harsh environments, the YH-1000 can take off and land on secondary roads, compacted dirt runways and grassy fields. Additionally, when fitted with float kits, it can perform water landings, and with ski kits, it is also capable of operating in snowy terrain, significantly expanding the application scenarios of unmanned logistics aircraft, the drone maker said.

Compared to traditional manned transportation, the major advantage of unmanned transport aircraft lies in their ability to overcome geographical challenges, whether natural obstacles like rivers, lakes, and seas or complex areas prone to natural disasters, they can reach destinations efficiently and even take off and land at temporary sites in special scenarios, the expert explained.

The latest verification flight covered mountainous and densely populated areas, which are common scenarios with high demand for material transportation. This makes the verification a significant exploration in improving logistics efficiency and reducing transportation costs in such regions, according to Wang.

Looking ahead, unmanned transport aircraft such as the YH-1000, has vast potential in multiple fields such as commercial operations, logistics distribution, and emergency rescue, with their unique adaptability and flexibility continuing to deliver value in various diverse scenarios.