- 7-ton unmanned aircraft highlights push into heavy-lift aerial logistics
- Zhejiang industrial hub builds aerospace cluster around local supply chains
China’s first domestically developed 7-ton fixed-wing cargo drone completed its maiden flight at an airport in Henan provincial capital Zhengzhou on March 31, marking a milestone for the country’s heavy-lift unmanned aviation capabilities.
It also underscores Taizhou’s growing role in developing Zhejiang’s low-altitude and aerospace economy.
The aircraft, named Changying-8 — also known as Norinco Luca — was assembled and jointly tested by Norinco Changying (Taizhou) UAV Technology Co., Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of Beijing-based Norinco Changying, a military equipment manufacturer.
The company, formerly drone maker Beihang UAS, has long operated in Taizhou Bay New Area and led final assembly integration and system testing for the program.
“We leveraged our strengths in system integration while coordinating closely with regional suppliers, laying the groundwork for scaled production,” said Ren Yi, general manager of the company’s Taizhou branch.
The drone has been described by Chinese media as an “unmanned aerial heavy truck,” representing a breakthrough in China’s development of large intelligent cargo platforms.
Equipped with an 18-cubic-meter cargo hold, the aircraft has a maximum takeoff weight of seven tons and can carry payloads of up to 3.5 tons — roughly equivalent to the weight of 50 adults.
With a range exceeding 3,000 kilometers, it is designed to transport goods ranging from standard freight and cold-chain products to emergency relief supplies such as winter clothing or disaster-response tents, Hong Kong-based Phoenix News reported.
The maiden flight is also seen as a “crowning moment” for Taizhou Bay New Area, Zhejiang province’s only provincial platform designated both a future aerospace industry pilot zone and a low-altitude economy demonstration area.
Chain leader
Local authorities have prioritized aerospace as a strategic emerging industry, aiming to cultivate an integrated industrial ecosystem led by anchor enterprises.
As a key “chain leader” within the regional aerospace supply network, Norinco Changying’s Taizhou unit has formed partnerships with more than 20 local aviation suppliers, enabling localized collaboration across production equipment, machining components and aviation tooling.
The cluster has expanded rapidly following the launch of Zhejiang’s marine and aerospace industry development platform in 2025.
Taizhou Bay New Area now hosts 84 aerospace-related companies, with the broader general aviation and low-altitude economy reaching an industrial scale of about 18.8 billion yuan ($2.6 billion), positioning the region as an emerging hub for unmanned cargo aviation.
