China transforms its transport plane into the largest transport drone in the world

• China successfully tested the Feihong-98 (FH-98) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) in the Inner Mongolia region on Tuesday.
• With the capacity to carry 1.5 tons expanding along 15 cubic meters, this is the ‘largest transport drone’ in the world.
  
• While it’s a commercial drone, there is potential for it to be applied in the situations of natural disasters and disaster relief.

Drones are the cutting edge of technology but every generation of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are different. The newest development comes from China where they’ve turned their Shifei Y5B indigenously developed transport plane into the Feihong-98 (FH-98) unmanned transport aircraft.


And with a maximum capacity of 5.25 tons as well as 15 cubic meters as its disposal for storage, it’s the largest commercial drone in the world. According to China Daily, the drone was successfully tested in North China's Inner Mongolia region on Tuesday.

Developed in collaboration between the China Academy of Aerospace Electronics Technology (CAAET) and SF Express, it’s not a military drone, but meant for for commercial use. The main intent of the drone is to make deliveries, but with FH-98’s potential, the drone could have wider applications.

And, here’s why:

The drone has a range of 1,200kms, that’s nearly how far Mumbai is on the western coast of India from Puducherry on the eastern coast. On top of that, it can carry a maximum payload of 1.5 tonnes (3,300 pounds) or 3 average sized polar bears. And when on the move, the drone can travel at a speed of 180 km/hr.

This means that in emergency situations or when natural calamities strike, this drone can actually be used to transport much needed supplies for disaster relief.

The added benefit is that since it only needs a simple runway to take off and land, its infrastructural requirements for efficiency aren’t extensive.

Though it’s unlikely that the plane will rule over the skies anytime soon, the drone is a part of China’s ‘Made in China 2025’ program. The program is similar to India’s ‘Make in India’ policy that focuses of expanding they country’s manufacturing base.