Aero Engine Corporation of China (AECC) announced on Thursday that its newly developed AES100 turboshaft engine, designed for civilian use, has officially entered mass production and secured its first commercial orders.
The milestone was marked at a conference in Zhuzhou, Hunan province, where the Civil Aviation Administration of China’s Central and Southern Regional Administration awarded the production certificate to AECC South Industry. This AECC subsidiary specializes in engines for small and mid-sized aircraft and will be responsible for manufacturing the AES100.
At the same event, AECC finalized sales and lease agreements with United Aircraft, a drone manufacturer based in Shenzhen. The company confirmed it would begin receiving AES100 engine units before the end of 2026.
United Aircraft revealed that the AES100 will power its Lanying R6000 — a 6-metric-ton unmanned tiltrotor aircraft built for cargo transport. The drone is expected to benefit from the engine’s strong thrust, long-range capability, and high operational flexibility.
The AES100 was developed by AECC’s Hunan Aviation Powerplant Research Institute in Zhuzhou and stands as China’s first domestically engineered turboshaft engine for civilian applications. Delivering 1,000 kilowatts of power, the engine adheres to international airworthiness standards and received its type certificate in August 2024.
AECC noted that engineers overcame over 200 significant technical hurdles during the engine’s development, achieving benchmarks in safety, cost-efficiency, ease of maintenance, and environmental adaptability.
The engine is compatible with single- and twin-engine helicopters weighing between 3 and 6 tons, as well as tiltrotor aircraft. It is suitable for a variety of missions, including transportation, aerial tours, law enforcement, patrols, and search and rescue operations.
“The issuance of the production certificate signifies that China has achieved independent development and manufacturing capabilities for advanced civil turboshaft engines,” said Li Gaiqi, chief designer of the AES100. “It also marks the establishment of a complete domestic supply and manufacturing chain.”
Li emphasized the AES100’s use of cutting-edge technologies, materials, and components, noting its high efficiency, low fuel consumption, and extended service life.
Li Xin, deputy director of the Hunan institute, said the engine is positioned to serve China’s rapidly expanding general aviation and low-altitude economy. He added that it can perform reliably under extreme weather conditions, including freezing temperatures, heavy rain, and strong electromagnetic environments.
Additionally, AECC has developed variants of the AES100. One such model, the AEP100, has been selected to power the W5000 — a large-scale transport drone developed by private aviation startup Air White Whale, which claims it to be the world’s largest unmanned cargo aircraft.