Unknown

The aircraft known only by the placeholder name “Unknown” emerged from the modest facilities of Qiuxin Shipyard in 2017, a company better known for its coastal freighters than for aerospace projects. The venture began when a group of former military engineers, dismissed after a strategic realignment, proposed a low‑cost, multi‑role platform that could be assembled using the shipyard’s existing composite‑layup lines. After three years of prototype testing, the first flight occurred on 12 March 2020, demonstrating a surprisingly smooth take‑off from a 1,200‑meter runway despite a maximum take‑off weight of 6,800 kilograms.

Key features include a high‑strength carbon‑fiber fuselage, a modular wing‑attachment system allowing rapid conversion between cargo, surveillance, and light‑attack configurations, and a twin‑propulsion package built around the domestically produced turboprop XT‑85 engine. Avionics are centered on an open‑architecture glass cockpit that integrates commercial GPS/GLONASS modules with a simplified flight‑control computer, reducing certification costs.

The Unknown’s significance lies in proving that small‑scale shipyards can produce viable aircraft, prompting several emerging economies to explore similar cross‑industry collaborations. Its operational flexibility has attracted interest from humanitarian NGOs and low‑budget air forces seeking affordable, adaptable lift capability.