BEIJING — China has developed a new drone system for weather modification operations, capable of implementing a remote-sensing detection of clouds, rain, wind, and aerosols in the air under its flight route.

The platform, featuring large-load, long-endurance, low-maintenance cost, and quick deployment, completed its 75-minute maiden flight from an airport in Northwest China's Shaanxi province, proving the machine's safety and capabilities of its air-borne facilities.

Among the machine's new functions are laser-microwave dual detection, active/passive joint detection, and remote-sensing in-situ detection, according to an institute under the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, one of its developers.

The success of its maiden flight marks a breakthrough for China-made unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) used in multiple-functional remote-sensing detection for weather modification. It can contribute to disaster reduction and ecological protection.