Norinco’s Drone Assembly Line Model at Eurosatory 2026: Which Drones Were on Display and Who Already Flies Them

At the Eurosatory 2026 defence exhibition in Paris, China’s state-run defence contractor Norinco (North Industries Group Corporation) unveiled a model of a drone assembly line — a miniature factory showing parts production, final assembly, and testing. The model was displayed under a banner that read "Norinco defence localisation," alongside a graphic describing how explosives and propellants used in the drones are manufactured .

The move signals Norinco’s ambition to move some drone production outside China, potentially in the Middle East or other regions .

Which drones were depicted

Three distinct Norinco drone types were visible on or alongside the assembly line model:

• BZK-005E — a medium-to-high altitude long-endurance (MALE) reconnaissance aircraft. It was shown being manufactured directly on the assembly line model . The BZK-005E has a maximum take-off weight of 1,500 kg, a 370 kg payload capacity, and up to 40 hours of endurance . It is also marketed under the name Sky Saker FX1000A .

• CY-8 (Changying-8) — a heavy autonomous cargo drone that state media describes as the world’s heaviest of its class, capable of carrying a 3.5-tonne payload over distances exceeding 3,000 km . The CY-8 completed its maiden flight on March 31, 2026, in Zhengzhou, Henan Province, and was displayed as a separate model elsewhere in the Norinco booth . Production is planned before the end of 2026 .

• Z-6B — an unmanned helicopter, also shown as a separate model at the booth . Described as low-cost and multi-purpose, the Z-6B was previously showcased by Norinco at the 2024 Eurosatory exhibition .

• Various loitering munitions were also on display, though specific models were not detailed in the sources .

Which countries already operate the BZK-005E

The BZK-005E is the only one of the three displayed drones with confirmed export operators. According to SCMP reporting from Eurosatory 2026 and supporting open-source analysis, the BZK-005E is currently operated in :

• Indonesia — confirmed operator. In 2019, Garuda Indonesia purchased three BZK-005 drones for inter-island cargo transport, with plans to operate up to 100 units .
• Mauritania — confirmed operator. Mauritania took delivery of a batch of armed BZK-005E drones (reported as six or eight units) in 2024, making it the first export customer for the armed version of this drone . A Mauritanian Army BZK-005 crashed in May 2026 .
• Sudan — reported operator. Satellite imagery analysis from June 2026 identified a BZK-005E at Nyala Airport, an area controlled by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) . The SCMP report uses the wording "reportedly Sudan" . A separate open-source assessment from June 2026 states that the platform was likely funneled via a UAE-based broker .

For the CY-8 and Z-6B, the available sources indicate these are newer systems still in testing or early production stages; no specific export operator countries were identified in the reporting from Eurosatory 2026 .