JDY-800

Chinese e-commerce platform JD.com announced a program to develop extra-heavy lift drones and released its first prototype on June 18.

JDY-800, JD’s first heavy lift drone, has a wingspan of over 10 meters with self-flying capability, a cruising altitude of up to 3,000 meters and a speed of over 200 kilometers per hour. It can fly continuously for more than 1,000 kilometers.

It has been designed to carry cargo of up to 5 tons, but the whole aircraft only weighs 840 kilograms.

The extra-heavy lift drone is designed with a load capacity of 40 to 60 tons, and the flight distance is projected to exceed 6,000 kilometers. The planned tonnage of the drone is close to that of a large military transport aircraft, and the drone requires new design and engine technologies.

JD’s drone research and development department is located in Xi’an, its large aircraft center. The department will provide JD with technological support for the company’s military and civilian integration services.

The integration of military and civilian enterprises is not new. For example, hundreds of freight airplanes owned by the FedEx Corporation have already been equipped with missile deception devices for military use.