TheTechno Optimist.

Phoenix Wings logistics dronesSF Express—Phoenix Wings ARK80 drone comes down by parachute in Shenzhen during a test flight; no injuriesPhoenix Wings logistics dronesSF Express—Phoenix Wings' 120 kg ARK80 cargo drone wins a CAAC type certificate
Phoenix Wings logistics drones
Photo: Simbiosc · CC BY-SA 4.0 (opens commons.wikimedia.org)

Phoenix Wings logistics drones

by SF ExpressCN

Make drones a routine leg of China's parcel network, cutting delivery times across rivers, hills, cities and islands where roads and ferries are slow, at a cost per parcel that can compete with vans.

ScalingStage 5 of 5

1,100+ Bay Area routes by mid-2026; ARK80 certified Dec 2025, test-flight parachute landing Feb 2026.

Updated 9 Feb 2026Checked 11 Oct0 updates this week

Milestones

Next · Scaling certified medium drones on intercity routes
  1. First drone delivery operating licence in China (CAAC)Mar 2018Complete.
  2. 70 km Shenzhen-Zhongshan intercity route opensApr 2024Complete.
  3. 600+ routes, 6.6M items carriedDec 2024Complete.
  4. First Hong Kong route: cross-sea to Cheung Chau16 Sep 2025Complete.
  5. ARK80 wins CAAC type certificate15 Dec 2025Complete.
  6. 1,100+ Greater Bay Area routes, 12.8M+ parcels deliveredJun 2026Complete.
  7. Scaling certified medium drones on intercity routesTarget 2026Current milestone.

Most important updates

Upcoming

  1. 2026Scaling certified medium drones on intercity routes (next)
Primer