A new large cargo drone model successfully completed a transprovincial test flight over plateau regions, demonstrating its ability to operate in extreme high-altitude conditions, its developer said.

The prototype FP-985 Taurus fixed-wing unmanned aircraft took off on Tuesday from Mainling Airport in Nyingchi city in the Xizang autonomous region, carrying local specialties such as butter tea and yak dairy products.

It flew across the western foothills of the Himalayan mountains on a challenging route designed to test its performance in complex terrain.

Mainling Airport is regarded by civil aviation industry insiders as one of China's most demanding airports because of its elevation of about 2,900 meters and its location nestled between narrow, cloud-covered river valleys. Operating an aircraft there requires a high degree of control precision and responsiveness.

The drone flew for three hours and 44 minutes, covering about 800 kilometers and reaching an altitude of 7,500 meters before landing at Kangding Airport in the Garze Tibetan autonomous prefecture in Sichuan province. The airport is among the world's highest, sitting more than 4,200 meters above sea level.

To further test its high-altitude takeoff capability, the aircraft then departed from Kangding and flew to its final destination, Beichuan Yongchang Airport in Mianyang, Sichuan. It landed on Wednesday morning, completing the 1,200-km demonstration flight aimed at assessing the drone's suitability for plateau environments.

The FP-985 Taurus was developed by Aerospace Times Feipeng, a subsidiary of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp. The aircraft is designed for operations in challenging environments, including plateaus, islands and other geographically complex regions.