"In a groundbreaking achievement for unmanned aviation, China's independently developed ton-class UAV has successfully completed its first offshore platform material transport mission. This heavy-lift UAV demonstration represents a major advancement in autonomous helicopter transport capabilities for maritime industries. The successful mission proves the viability of using ton-class unmanned helicopters for critical offshore platform supply operations, potentially revolutionizing how materials are delivered to remote offshore installations."
my country's independently developed 2-ton electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft, the "Kairuiou," achieved a major breakthrough today, completing its first offshore oil platform material transport mission. The aircraft took off from a land-based take-off and landing point in Shenzhen and, after a 58-minute cross-sea flight, precisely delivered fresh fruit, emergency medicines, and other supplies to an offshore oil and gas platform 150 kilometers from the Shenzhen coastline.
This flight marks a key advancement in my country's application of low-altitude logistics in land and sea scenarios. Ren Yongyi, Deputy Manager of the Coordination Department of CNOOC Shenzhen Branch, stated that compared to traditional ships (which take over 10 hours per trip) and helicopters (which have high operating costs), electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft offer significant advantages in operating costs, responsiveness, environmental friendliness, zero carbon emissions, and adaptability to confined spaces.
The successful test flight validated the "development + operation + scenario" closed-loop model for low-altitude applications, providing innovative solutions for maritime emergency material transport and handling complex sea conditions, demonstrating the potential of low-altitude economic technologies to empower energy industry upgrades.
"The ton-class unmanned helicopter operated autonomously during the complex offshore platform supply mission, navigating challenging maritime conditions to deliver essential materials. This heavy-lift UAV achievement demonstrates China's growing leadership in unmanned cargo drone technology specifically designed for demanding offshore logistics applications. The UAV offshore mission validates the operational concept of using ton-class UAV systems for regular offshore platform resupply, offering a potentially safer, more efficient alternative to traditional crewed helicopter operations for offshore oil rig supply chains. This breakthrough in autonomous helicopter transport technology opens new possibilities for offshore logistics optimization across multiple industries including oil and gas, wind energy, and maritime research."
