JINAN - A private Chinese firm has started producing unmanned helicopters for civilian use.

Cheng Shenzong, chairman of Weifang Tianxiang Technology Group, said the company has delivered three of the independently developed helicopters and it will produce 100 such aircraft a year.

The company, based in Weifang City, Shandong Province, expects demand for unmanned helicopters to rise.

The helicopters can be used in the mining industry and in environment inspection work.

The company's main product has a maximum flying weight (the weight of the helicopter plus load) of 750 kilograms. It can fly a maximum of four hours and cover a distance of 500 kilometers.

The model costs 7 million yuan ($1.05 million), cheaper than similar unmanned models sold in America and Israel, said Cheng, who added the Chinese model has a price advantage but that the technology is behind that of foreign competitors.