ASN-209 Silver Eagle

The ASN-209 is a Medium Altitude Medium Endurance (MAME) tactical unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) developed in 2011 by Xi'an Aisheng Technology Group, also known as Northwestern Polytechnical University UAV Research Institute or the 365th Institute. China and Egypt signed an agreement for the production of 12 ASN-209 units, which included a technology transfer. By May 2012, Egypt had built six units in cooperation with a foreign defense manufacturer, with local component manufacturing reaching a reported 99.5 percent.

Design

The UAV features a twin-boom pusher configuration with a rear-mounted engine, high-set wings, and a stabilizer linking the twin fins. It is constructed to house avionics, digital flight control and navigation systems, and a data link. Flight control modes include manual, program, and emergency options. The system is operated from a ground control station housed in a cargo van and does not require airfield access, utilizing a rocket booster launch and parachute recovery. The aircraft has a length of 4.273 meters, a wingspan of 7.5 meters, a maximum takeoff weight of 320 kg, and a payload capacity of 50 kg. It has a maximum speed of 180 km/h, a cruise speed of 140 km/h, a combat range of 200 km, an endurance of 10 hours, and a service ceiling of 5,000 meters. Military configurations support Ground Moving Target Indication (GMTI), Electronic Intelligence (ELINT), Electronic Warfare (EW), Ground Target Designation (GTD), and communication relay. Civil applications include Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) and electro-optical payloads.

Operational History

The ASN-209 and its derivatives are operated by the People's Liberation Army of China, the Algerian Air Force, and the Egyptian armed forces. The Silver Eagle derivative serves as a shore-based naval UAV with the Chinese Navy. It is transported and launched via rocket-assisted take-off from a 6 x 6 truck. Its maiden flight occurred in northeastern China on June 1, 2011, lasting 3.5 hours. The Silver Eagle operates with an estimated range of 150 km and an endurance of several hours.

Variants

• ASN-209: The baseline tactical MAME UAV designed for aerial reconnaissance, target location, and electronic warfare.
• Silver Eagle: A shore-based naval derivative deployed by the Chinese military, featuring four vertically installed antennas on the fuselage and wingtips.