Toward the 15th Five-Year Plan: CCTV Visits W5000 Assembly with KUNDA Technology
2026-03-27
China's 15th Five-Year Plan calls for the development of emerging industries, including equipment for low-altitude aviation.
At the time of this report, the W5000, described as China's largest-payload uncrewed cargo aircraft under development, was undergoing final preparations for its maiden flight.
From nose-section positioning and large-component alignment to millimeter-level positioning and coordinated process control, Dalian KUNDA Automation's independently developed digital systems support precision assembly on the W5000 production floor. These technologies help establish the manufacturing capabilities needed for large aircraft and the developing low-altitude aviation sector.
Precision Assembly of the W5000 Cargo Aircraft
The report states that the W5000 had received 530 orders and production was under way. To see how its major structures are assembled with precision, CCTV reporter Tang Tao visited the W5000 manufacturing facility in Xinbei District, Changzhou.
Nose-Section Positioning and Alignment
The nose-section operation lifts the component, adjusts its orientation and aligns it with the other fuselage sections. This is a precision assembly task that takes a little over 30 minutes. An independently developed digital alignment system helps position the large nose section accurately for joining.
High-Precision Flexible CNC Positioners
Previously, skilled workers adjusted the orientation of these components manually, a time-consuming process susceptible to small errors. Computer-controlled CNC positioners now guide the component to millimeter-level accuracy. According to the report, this doubles large-component alignment efficiency while supporting consistent product quality.
The report describes this as the first use of this type of digital alignment equipment by a Chinese uncrewed aircraft manufacturer. The flexible system can accommodate longer or shorter aircraft variants with limited modifications, reducing the need to purchase replacement equipment and supporting scaled production of large uncrewed cargo aircraft.
At the time of publication, Dalian KUNDA Automation was planning the second-phase intelligent final assembly line for Air White Whale, targeting annual assembly capacity for 50 aircraft. Reconfigurable positioning units can be arranged in twin-row, matrix and other layouts to suit different products. The planned line is designed to support intelligent transfer and precision alignment across aircraft variants and production volumes, improving assembly flexibility and efficiency while supporting scalable, standardized and reliable manufacturing for the low-altitude aviation industry.