Comment on China has built a giant Osprey-like drone that engineers say can carry 10 passengers and fly at 340 mph

United Aircraft's team stands before the Lanying R6000 prototype with a sign that says the drone was just rolled off the assembly lines.United Aircraft/Weibo/ScreenshotA new VTOL drone designed to fly at six tons was just completed in China, per a local report.The Lanying R6000 is meant to take up to 10 passengers, fly up to 2,400 miles, and reach 340 mph.Its developer has secured military contracts before, but says it's designed for cargo and transport.A Chinese aviation firm has built the first prototype of a large tiltrotor drone that can carry a two-ton load, according to a local report in Anhui province.Dubbed the Lanying R6000, the unmanned aerial vehicle is being developed by Shenzhen-based United Aircraft, which has been assembling the prototype at its workshop in Wuhu City.According to a news report from local outlet Wuhu News shared by the city's government, the drone was completed on Friday.The Lanying R6000, or the Lanthanum Shadow, is designed with a maximum take-off weight of about 13,000 pounds and a maximum load of up to 4,400 pounds, per the report.Alternatively, it's meant to take up to 10 passengers at a time, per Wuhu News.United Aircraft intends for the drone to fly at up to 340 miles per hour, with a maximum range of 2,400 miles and a cruising altitude of up to 25,000 feet.What's novel about the Lanying R6000 is that it's a drone meant for vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) but with far higher speeds than helicopters — a capability among modern US military aircraft like the Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey.However, the drone's carrying capacity is far smaller than that of the Osprey, which can take 24 passengers or airlift loads of up to 20,000 pounds.United Aircraft previously discussed its specifications for the Lanying R6000 at the Singapore Airshow in February but had only provided concept visuals.This time, however, a photo shows the completed aircraft, with United Aircraft's team holding a sign declaring that their first Lanying R6000 was fresh off the assembly line.The drone's full appearance has led to comparisons on Chinese social media to the designs of the Osprey and Bell's V280 Valor, a newer VTOL aircraft that completed its first flight in December 2017.The Lanying R6000 is expected to debut at the 2024 Zhuhai Air Show, which runs from Nov 12 to 17.It's unclear if the drone is designed for military purposes.