On April 4, at the Zhuzhou Lusong Airport in Hunan province, China marked a significant milestone in the global race for green aviation. A 7.5-ton unmanned transport aircraft, powered by the domestically developed AEP100 megawatt-class hydrogen-fueled turboprop engine, successfully completed its maiden flight. The aircraft maintained a steady speed of 220 kilometers per hour over a 36-kilometer course, signaling that China has successfully integrated the full technical chain of hydrogen propulsion from core components to total system assembly.
The AEP100 engine is a cornerstone of China’s strategic push into the 'low-altitude economy,' a sector Beijing has identified as a future growth engine. Developed by the Hunan Power Plant Research Institute under the state-owned Aero Engine Corporation of China (AECC), the engine is an adaptation of the AES100 turboshaft. By converting the shaft power to drive a propeller and utilizing liquid hydrogen, the system achieves zero carbon emissions while providing approximately 1,200 horsepower—comparable to the output of a high-performance conventional turbine but with a vastly superior environmental profile.
This breakthrough is the result of a coordinated effort within China’s specialized aerospace ecosystem. AECC Power (SH600893), the manufacturing powerhouse of the group, and AECC Control (SZ000738), which specializes in the 'brains' or digital control systems of aero-engines, provided the industrial backbone for the project. These listed entities have seen their roles elevated as China seeks to move beyond traditional jet fuel dependency, leveraging their expertise in high-pressure combustion and precision fluid control to manage the unique challenges of hydrogen storage and ignition.
The successful test flight follows a series of rapid-fire technical achievements, including the validation of liquid hydrogen performance metrics in late March. By proving the reliability of a megawatt-class system on a 7.5-ton platform, China is positioning itself at the forefront of the next generation of logistics and regional transport. While Western aerospace giants like Airbus and various startups continue to prototype hydrogen solutions, the integration of the AEP100 into heavy unmanned cargo drones suggests that China is prioritizing the commercialization of hydrogen in the logistics sector before attempting passenger applications.