Dubai Airshow 2025 – United Aircraft T1400: a tandem rotor UAV from China
The T1400 tandem rotor unmanned helicopter, developed by United Aircraft of China, commanded attention at the Dubai Airshow 2025, standing out for its advanced engineering and operational versatility.
Designed for heavy-lift tasks with a robust dual-rotor architecture, the T1400 demonstrates a leap forward in the world of rotary-wing autonomous aircraft. This Chinese UAV boasts an impressive maximum take-off mass of 1,400 kilograms – making it one of the heaviest lifters in its class. With an endurance of up to eight hours, it remains airborne long enough for complex missions or extended logistical operations. The T1400 can reach a service ceiling of 6,500 metres, enabling it to operate efficiently at high altitudes and in challenging conditions.
Its cruising speed tops out at 180 km/h, confirming its credentials as a rapid-response asset across varied environments. The aircraft can deliver payloads up to 650 kg, even at altitude, and can transport substantial materials, moving the equivalent mass of more than ten adults in a single sortie.
The T1400’s tandem rotor design, similar in profile to a scaled-down Chinook, enhances stability and lift, especially under load. It is powered by two high-efficiency engines, offering redundancy—should one fail, as the other can provide sufficient power to both rotors for continued safe operation. The rugged composite airframe supports these mechanical systems, maximising both durability and operational safety.
For navigation and control, the T1400 is equipped with integrated multi-redundant flight control systems and a combination of navigation technologies. Fully autonomous control logic, benefit from these systems which protect against errors and provide precise manoeuvrability in tight environments. Internal cargo bays and external suspension fixtures allow flexible loading options, while the UAV’s adaptability ensures it can switch roles rapidly, from logistics runs to emergency operations.
What distinguishes the T1400 is not only its technical prowess, but its application range. In logistics, it is well-suited for trans-regional cargo transport, supporting both military requirements and humanitarian operations in hard-to-access areas. Its high altitude performance enables it to supply remote outposts and facilitate plateau operations. During emergencies – disasters or crises – the T1400 can deliver supplies or evacuate critical materials where manned flight may be too risky.
In the civilian sphere, its endurance and payload make it ideal for agricultural support, firefighting (with high-capacity water or retardant payloads), and infrastructure inspection across vast territories.
On the tarmac at Dubai Airshow 2025, the T1400 stands as a symbol of UAV evolution among more than 200 aircraft featured this year. Its presence signals the maturing potential of autonomous heavy lift in both the civil and military markets, attracting crowd interest and sparking conversations on collaborative international ventures.
With its tandem rotor design, unrivalled payload and endurance, and a suite of redundant safety and control technologies, the T1400 is setting a new benchmark for unmanned aerial vehicles. As innovation takes centre stage at the Dubai Airshow, the T1400 represents the future of autonomous heavy-lift solutions—proving that modern UAVs are ready to meet demanding operational tasks wherever and whenever they are called.
Photos by J. Roukoz
