China’s Silver Hawk unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) has performed its first test flight and carried out a series of communications relay tests in the Binhai area of northeastern China.

The UAV has been developed for use by the People’s Liberation Army Navy for communications relay missions aboard vessels at sea.

Defence News has quoted UK-based Exclusive Analysis intelligence analyst Gary Li as saying that the UAV will be deployed from People’s Liberation Army Navy destroyers as the range of the existing ASN-209 UAV is limited.

The UAV will most likely be powered by the 22kg HS-700 engine, similar to that on ASN-206, ASN-207 and ASN-208.