As part of the national low-altitude air mobility program, the Chinese startup Air White Whale presented the W5000 cargo drone with a payload capacity of 5 tons. The drone is designed as a cantilever high-wing aircraft with two turboprop engines. It is capable of landing and taking off from standard runways at regular airports. A remote crew can simultaneously control 6–7 drones, reducing the cost of servicing air cargo transportation by 10 times.
Image Source: Air White Wale
The takeoff weight of the W5000 is 10.8 tons. The cargo space volume is 65 m3. The cargo space allows the use of different types of loads and pallets, including robotic ones. The wingspan of the W5000 is 22.7 m, length – 22.9, height – 7.5 m.
The maximum flight range of the drone reaches 2600 km at an altitude of up to 6000 m with a speed of up to 526 km/h. The drone will be able to carry out international transportation, and not just within China. Air White Whale has already submitted an application to national regulators to obtain an airworthiness certificate and expects to deliver the first drone to a customer in 2026.
This unmanned aerial cargo platform is designed to reduce the cost of air cargo transportation. It will be possible to save not only on pilot salaries, but also on maintenance. The company expects that cargo transportation in terms of ton-kilometers will decrease by 40%. Earlier this year, other Chinese companies introduced aircraft-style aerial cargo drones with a smaller payload capacity, capable of carrying 700 kg of cargo and 3.2 tons. We can expect drones to transport 10 tons or more to appear soon. It seems that in the not too distant future, not only truck drivers will be unemployed, but also cargo aviation pilots.