"A genuine strategic air power must possess a strong power projection capability, which is highly reliant on large aircraft, namely a strategic air freighter and a strategic bomber, " said Wang Yanan, deputy editor in chief at Aerospace Knowledge magazine and a military analyst, in a China Daily report.

CNN: China's new super cargo jet takes to the skies

Meanwhile, the Coast Guard and Air Force were unable to rescue 22 people aboard a freighter adrift in the Gulf of Mexico because of weather, the two military branches said Friday.

CNN: More than 120 rescued from Ike's floods

Few details were released about the flight, made Saturday, but the test indicates China's ambitions to add a heavy freighter to its capabilities and match better against traditional air powers, Russia and the United States.

CNN: China's new super cargo jet takes to the skies

This is Europe's robotic freighter, which is flown regularly to the ISS to keep it stocked up with fuel, air, water, food and spare parts.

BBC: European tech could propel Nasa's Orion capsule