China's Heavy Hexacopter AR-E800 Takes Flight with 300 Kilogram Payload
The Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) has completed successful tests of a new unmanned aerial vehicle, the AR-E800, weighing 800 kg. The tests took place at Jingdezhen International Airport, located in Jiangxi Province, China. This was reported by the Telegram channel China Army. The tests demonstrated the aircraft's ability to perform stable flight, takeoff, altitude hold, execute complex maneuvers, and precise landing. The AR-E800's uniqueness lies in its ability to carry significant cargo volumes thanks to its internal payload bay and external mounting points. The maximum payload is 300 kg, which opens up new possibilities for operating the device in hard-to-reach regions, including mountainous terrain.
From Jingdezhen Tests to Tianjin Debut and Russian Counterpart: A New Era of Cargo Drones
The drone was initially presented in September this year at the International Helicopter Exhibition in Tianjin. After the demonstration of AR-E800's capabilities, it received a number of orders for supply from potential customers. It is worth noting that parallel to Chinese developers, Russian specialists are also actively working on creating similar solutions. For example, recently it became known that the Russian Armed Forces are conducting tests of their own cargo quadcopter 'Elephant,' capable of carrying about 90 kg. This aircraft is intended to supply combat units located directly at the front.
