A private Chinese company said yesterday it has developed a prototype UFO-like aircraft capable of flying at an altitude of 1,000 meters with speed up to 80 kilometers per hour.

The disc-shaped craft is 1.2 meters in diameter and weighs 10 kilograms. It is unmanned and has one propeller, using methanol fuel. It can take off and land vertically and hover in the air.

Wang Zhongxin, board chairman of developer Harbin Smart Special Aerocraft Co Ltd, said it took 12 years and 28 million yuan (US$4 million) to develop the aircraft which can be used for aerial photography, geological surveys and emergency illumination.