Chinese low-altitude mobility developer ARIDGE, an affiliate of XPENG, has delivered its Land Aircraft Carrier (X3-F) air module to the UAE for testing within Ras Al Khaimah's Advanced Air Mobility regulatory sandbox. Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah and member of the UAE Supreme Council, unveiled the aircraft alongside ARIDGE founder Zhao Deli during a delegation visit to the manufacturer's mass-production facility in Guangzhou, China.
The handover of the test aircraft was conducted under an established partnership between ARIDGE and the Ras Al Khaimah Transport Authority (RAKTA). The Land Aircraft Carrier system combines a six-wheeled ground vehicle that transports and recharges the aircraft with a detachable two-seat electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) flying unit.
According to XPENG Chief Executive Officer He Xiaopeng, the vehicle will soon begin flight tests inside the emirate's pilot regulatory sandbox. Initial evaluations will focus on verification, airspace safety protocols, emergency rescue scenarios, and aerial tourism operations as the UAE develops commercial frameworks for advanced air mobility.
Sources
- UECN · 2026-10-27
