China’s Largest Cargo Drone Achieves First Successful Flight

China has successfully tested its domestically developed NORINCO LUCA large cargo unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), marking a significant milestone in the country’s low-altitude logistics sector. The maiden flight took place on Tuesday in Zhengzhou, Henan province, according to the Global Times.

Developed by the state-owned Norinco Group, the LUCA UAV is China’s first 7-tonne-class fixed-wing unmanned “heavy truck”, designed for large-scale logistics and emergency transport operations.

During its first flight, the UAV took off after a runway roll of just over 200 metres, remained airborne for approximately 30 minutes, and successfully validated critical systems, including flight control, avionics, propulsion, fuel systems, and overall flight performance, before completing a smooth landing.

With a wingspan of 25 metres, length of 17 metres, and height of 4.5 metres, the LUCA can carry a maximum payload of 3.5 tonnes. Chief designer Geng Jianzhong highlighted its emergency transport capabilities, noting it can carry 1,750 winter jackets or 700 standard disaster-relief tents. Industrially, it can transport large mechanical components or even entire production lines.

The UAV’s 18-cubic-metre unobstructed cargo bay supports standard containers and cold-chain units, enabling the transport of industrial goods, fresh produce, and emergency supplies. Its range exceeds 3,000 km at full load, making it ideal for cross-regional logistics, time-sensitive deliveries, and remote area operations. Short take-off and landing capabilities allow operation from runways as short as 200 metres, basic airstrips, and even roads.

The platform integrates an intelligent dispatch system, enabling centralised control of multiple UAVs for continuous operations. Its modular design allows adaptation for emergency communications, weather modification, border patrol, and electronic reconnaissance.

The NORINCO LUCA represents a major step forward for China in autonomous heavy cargo transport, combining high payload capacity, extended range, and versatile operational applications.