China-made large amphibious UAV conducts maiden flight

A China-made large amphibious UAV - "U650" – successfully conducted its maiden flight in the heavy fog and strong crosswinds above the waters in east China's Jiangsu province in early December. The test flight lasted for 30 minutes.

The UAV is 6 meters in length, with a wingspan of 12 meters and a stunning 17: 1 glide ratio. 98 percent of the body is made of carbon fiber, with a payload of 150 kilograms. It can fly continuously for 15 hours, with a maximum flight distance of 2,000 kilometers. The UAV has a hull structure and retractable landing gear. It can achieve takeoff and landing on a variety of surfaces including sea, lakes, meadows and roads. In addition, the UAV is equipped with highly integrated mobile communications command vehicle and a set of artificial intelligence systems, which can control the UAV in all-weather conditions.