CASC completes maiden flight of solar-powered UAV in China
China’s CASC completed the first flight of its solar-powered Light Cavalry UAV, designed for long-endurance civilian missions such as infrastructure inspection and environmental monitoring.
China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp.’s 11th Research Institute conducted the maiden flight of its Light Cavalry solar-powered unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) on November 11 at an undisclosed airfield in northwestern China. The flight marks an early milestone in the institute’s push to develop a commercially deployable solar-powered aircraft. The UAV features an 8-meter wingspan, a maximum takeoff weight of 45 kilograms, and a payload capacity exceeding 5 kilograms, with design targets including continuous operation for up to 30 hours at altitudes reaching 7,000 meters.
The aircraft is powered entirely by solar cells integrated into its wings, with photovoltaic modules supplying electricity to the propulsion system during daylight while charging onboard batteries. The batteries then provide power after sunset, enabling overnight operation without fuel consumption. The 11th Research Institute stated it developed key subsystems in-house, including flight controls, avionics, and energy management systems, though it did not disclose independent verification of performance figures.
The institute highlighted potential commercial applications such as inspecting power transmission lines, pipelines, and railway corridors, where the proposed 30-hour endurance could support extended missions covering several hundred kilometers depending on conditions. Additional uses include environmental monitoring, emergency response, and communications relay services, with the vehicle-based launch capability intended to facilitate operations in remote areas lacking dedicated aviation infrastructure.
The development aligns with China’s promotion of a low-altitude economy, positioning solar-powered, long-endurance UAVs as a niche between shorter-range battery-powered multirotors and conventional fuel-powered aircraft. While solar propulsion may reduce fuel consumption and emissions, commercial viability remains contingent on acquisition costs, payload capabilities, operating conditions, and demonstrated endurance, none of which have been publicly disclosed by CASC.