China's domestically developed NORINCO LUCA large cargo unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) completed its maiden flight on Tuesday in Zhengzhou, Henan province, marking a milestone in the country’s low-altitude logistics sector. Developed by state-owned Norinco Group, the aircraft is the largest logistics unmanned cargo plane to achieve a successful first flight, representing China’s first 7-tonne-class fixed-wing "unmanned aerial heavy truck." During the test flight, the aircraft took off after a runway roll of just over 200 metres and remained airborne for around 30 minutes, successfully validating key systems including flight control, avionics, electromechanical systems, propulsion and fuel systems, and overall flight performance, before returning for a stable landing. Designed for heavy-duty logistics operations, the NORINCO LUCA has a wingspan of 25 metres, a length of 17 metres and a height of 4.5 metres. It can carry a maximum payload of 3.5 tonnes, its chief designer Geng Jianzhong said. "In emergency scenarios, it can carry 1,750 winter jackets weighing 2 kilogrammes each, or 700 standard disaster-relief tents," Geng told the Global Times. Its short take-off and landing capability allows it to operate from runways as short as 200 metres, as well as from basic airstrips and roads, improving access to remote areas. The platform is supported by an intelligent dispatch system enabling centralised control of multiple aircraft and continuous operations. Built on a modular design, the NORINCO LUCA can also be adapted for a range of applications, including emergency communications, weather modification, border patrol and electronic reconnaissance. From an industrial logistics perspective, this capacity is sufficient to transport large mechanical components - even, in some cases, an entire production line.
