The world’s largest unmanned cargo aircraft, the W5000, jointly developed by Whale Line (Changzhou) Technology Co., Ltd. and Beihang University, was completed and officially rolled out in Changzhou in October 2024.
The W5000 has a maximum takeoff weight of 10.8 tons, a payload capacity of 5 tons, a length of 22.89 meters, and a range of 2,600 kilometers. It is currently China’s most capable and safest large-scale unmanned cargo aircraft.
The aircraft operates under an “autonomous flight + ground monitoring” system, allowing one crew to oversee six to seven aircraft simultaneously. Its crew cost is only one-tenth that of a comparable manned cargo plane. The entire supply chain is domestically controlled, with all components sourced from major Chinese aviation manufacturers.
In terms of efficiency, the W5000 reduces ton-kilometer costs by more than 40% compared with similar manned cargo aircraft. Turnaround time at civil and general aviation airports is just 15 minutes, offering significant operational advantages.
The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) has accepted the aircraft’s airworthiness application, and the first unit is expected to be delivered in the second half of 2026.