China’s largest in-development unmanned cargo aircraft, the W5000, has received 530 pre-orders while undergoing pre-delivery tests, according to a report published recently by China Central Television (CCTV) citing the aircraft’s developer.

The aircraft is being produced by AirWhiteWhale (Beijing) Technology Co., Ltd., with most manufacturing taking place in the eastern Chinese city of Changzhou. The W5000 is a fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicle designed specifically for cargo transport operations.

According to the manufacturer, the aircraft has a maximum takeoff weight of 10.8 tonnes and can carry a payload of about five tonnes. It is capable of cruising at an altitude of around 6,000 meters with a maximum cruise speed of 526 kilometers per hour and a range of up to 2,600 kilometers.

The developer said a domestically developed digital alignment system enables millimeter-level positioning during assembly, helping double production efficiency for large components while maintaining consistent product quality. The system can also be adapted for different aircraft variants, potentially reducing costs and improving manufacturing flexibility.

The W5000 also uses carbon fiber composite materials extensively. The producer said these materials are nearly 30 percent lighter than aluminum alloys while offering greater strength, allowing the aircraft to achieve longer range and carry heavier cargo loads.

Most of the aircraft’s core materials are sourced within China, mainly from the Yangtze River Delta region, which the company said supports supply chain independence. Industry suppliers in the region have formed a clustered ecosystem providing key components locally.

With testing ongoing and hundreds of pre-orders already secured, the W5000 program could play a role in China’s expanding unmanned aviation and cargo logistics sector in the coming years, industry observers say.

Source: CCTV