JD drone is flying over Java Island, Indonesia(photo provided by interviewee)

Jan. 24 (NBD) -- Chinese online retailer JD Group announced at the annual World Economic Forum meeting in Davos, Switzerland that it has completed the maiden flight of the logistics unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) in Indonesia, marking the first overseas pilot of a Chinese logistics drones.

This also represents the first unmanned cargo operation approved by Indonesia government. "These tests are an opportunity for Indonesia to become a leader in the Southeast Asia region by leveraging drone delivery to improve access to vital medical, humanitarian, and commercial goods in remote areas," said Timothy Reuter, head of drones and airspace, World Economic Forum.

By building a tie with Indonesia government, JD Group aims to provide more convenience for local people through its UAV technology.

JD Logistics has formed the largest e-commerce logistics network in Indonesia, with delivery service covering 7 islands, 483 cities and 6,500 regions and counties.

The foray of the e-commerce behemoth into the market dates back to March 2016 when it started operating its Indonesian website, as the initial step of the Group's overseas expansion.

JD Logistics has set the goal to extend its supply chain service to the world in the next ten years.

It is predicted that the global commercial drone market will grow speedily in the coming five years.

The global market value will hit 15 billion U.S. dollars by 2022, almost 12 times the value of 2016, with shipments of such vehicles exceeding 620,000 units.

In China, the civil drones output surged 67 percent to reach 2.9 million in 2017. The market value of drones is estimated to stand at 5.3 billion yuan (781.7 million U.S. dollars) in China by 2020.

Seeing the promising prospect of the sector, Chinese delivery giants are taking more efforts on commercialization of UAV.

In October last year, SF Express teamed up with China Aerospace Times Electrics Co Ltd to carry out the first flight test of the Feihong-98, the largest unmanned transport aircraft that it can carry up to 1.5 tons of cargo or passengers, in North China's Inner Mongolia.

In addition, the Shenzhen-based logistics company launched the fixed-wing vertical takeoff and landing aerial vehicle Manta Ray last September.

It is noted that SF Holding vice president Lin Zheying said early in 2017 that after the company's drones are put in large-scale commercial use, it will consider first making significant deployment in Indonesia market.

Besides, China Postal Express & Logistics' amphibious UAV passed the flight test in May 2018, followed by the first delivery flight of ZTO Express' cargo drone in Lintong District of Xi'an in northwest China in October, from which drones began being applied in order delivery in the area.

As China's logistics sector sees remarkable advance in application and popularity of UAVs, the policies on the field are also being perfected.

Ma Junsheng, head of the State Post Bureau, mentioned in a conference that relevant technical standards for delivery drones, driverless vehicles and intelligent security check machines should be developed.

Xu Yong, adviser to delivery website cecss.com held though the developed countries conducted R&D of drones in logistics field ahead of China, the vehicles were adopted widely in Chinese market.

In Xu's view, the flight of JD UAV product in Indonesia could be a new starting point for overseas application of domestic UAVs.

Email: zhanglingxiao@nbd.com.cn