Shenyang Sunny Aeronautics and Space Adventure Company has achieved a significant milestone in autonomous aviation technology with the production launch of its SUNNY-T2000 unmanned cargo aircraft. The 2-metric-ton capacity aircraft rolled off production lines in Shenyang, Liaoning Province on December 6, 2025, marking a substantial advancement in China’s logistics and emergency response capabilities.
The SUNNY-T2000 features a 15-cubic-meter rectangular cargo compartment designed to transport diverse payloads including emergency supplies, industrial components, and agricultural products. With an operational range exceeding 1,000 kilometers fully loaded, the aircraft can operate from runways as short as 800 meters, enabling access to remote regions and challenging terrain. Its aerial cargo drop capability makes it particularly valuable for emergency rescue missions and forest firefighting operations alongside常规logistics functions.
Professor He Jun, Chairman of Shenyang Sunny and academic at Shenyang Aerospace University, emphasized the aircraft’s role in addressing limitations of existing cargo planes regarding payload capacity, internal space, and range efficiency. “Current air transport struggles to compete with ground logistics for large-scale operations, creating substantial demand for long-distance unmanned cargo solutions,” He noted.
The company is already advancing more ambitious projects, including 6-ton and 7-ton cargo aircraft models. The 6-ton variant, powered by an ATP120 turboprop engine, offers container-equivalent cargo space of approximately 67 cubic meters. Development is also underway for a 10-ton commercial aircraft targeting cross-regional heavy cargo transportation.
These developments align with Shenbei New District’s strategic focus on low-altitude economy as an emerging growth sector during China’s 14th Five-Year Plan period. The district has attracted over thirty enterprises specializing in low-altitude technologies, forming a comprehensive manufacturing ecosystem led by Shenyang Sunny and Optimal Aerospace Science and Industry Group.
Infrastructure development supports this expansion, with approval of 14 airspaces and two drone logistics test routes—the largest such allocation in Liaoning Province. The district has established 21 temporary takeoff/landing points and is developing Shenbei General Airport alongside the Aifeike Flight Camp’s second phase. Notably, Northeast China’s first low-altitude aircraft equipment quality inspection center will be established in the district.
According to Li Linghui, Deputy Director of Shenbei’s Industry and Information Technology Bureau, these initiatives position the district to become a national cluster and demonstration zone for low-altitude economic activities, integrating the SUNNY-T2000 with larger aircraft models through Shenbei University City’s delivery routes to create a multi-tiered logistics network.