The Aisheng ASN-209 (Silver Eagle), also called the Silver Eagle, is a Chinese Medium-Altitude Medium-Endurance (MAME) Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) primarily used for tactical operations.
In brief
The ASN-209 is an unmanned, medium-endurance UAV, operating at altitudes of up to 5,000 meters (16,400 feet) with a maximum speed of 180 km/h (112 mph). It supports diverse military roles like reconnaissance, target designation, and electronic intelligence, with an operational range of 200 km (124 miles) and an endurance of approximately 10 hours, allowing it to conduct extended missions in a single sortie.
The Aisheng ASN-209 (Silver Eagle)
The ASN-209 is part of China’s rapidly advancing drone industry, with a design that accommodates multiple mission configurations, including Ground Moving Target Indication (GMTI) and Communication Relay. Its cost-efficiency, thanks to China’s localized manufacturing, makes it competitively priced compared to Western counterparts.
Development History
China’s UAV development during the 2000s aimed to match Western advancements, with the ASN-209 emerging in 2011 through a partnership between China and Egypt. Egypt also launched domestic production, leveraging this partnership for technology transfer and developing twelve units for the Egyptian Armed Forces. The UAV, designed for flexible operational roles, came into service in 2012, quickly becoming a mainstay in China’s surveillance and electronic warfare capabilities. It also aligns with China’s strategy to provide accessible defense technology to its allies, like Egypt and Algeria.
Design Details
The ASN-209 is configured with a twin-boom layout and a rear-engine pusher design, optimizing it for stable, medium-altitude flights. Its central nacelle houses avionics, payloads, and fuel, with thin tailbooms and vertical fins adding aerodynamic balance. Its launcher, a modified 6×6 truck, uses rocket-assisted takeoff, while parachute recovery minimizes landing impact. This versatility allows it to carry diverse payloads, such as electronic countermeasures, increasing its operational flexibility in various combat and surveillance roles.
Performance Spécifications
With a conventional engine and two-blade pusher propeller, the ASN-209 reaches a maximum speed of 180 km/h (112 mph) and can cruise efficiently at 140 km/h (87 mph). Its service ceiling of 5,000 meters (16,400 feet) and range of 200 km (124 miles) are typical for medium-endurance UAVs, giving it an operational endurance of 10 hours. Although unarmed, its performance parameters align well for surveillance, target designation, and electronic warfare within regional operations.
Variants
The “Silver Eagle” is a primary variant of the ASN-209, equipped with additional antennae and specialized for electronic intelligence and naval operations. While similar in structural design to the base ASN-209, the Silver Eagle variant reportedly supports enhanced electronic intelligence missions, particularly for China’s naval forces, thus extending its utility in maritime surveillance.
Military Use and Operational Deployments
The ASN-209’s operational history includes service in China’s and Egypt’s armed forces, with usage across reconnaissance, battlefield surveys, and artillery adjustment. In Algeria, it supports tactical air reconnaissance and electronic warfare. Although not used in direct combat, it enhances battlefield awareness and communication relays. Countries like Algeria leverage it alongside other Chinese UAVs for electronic warfare, highlighting the ASN-209’s integration into broader, multi-role combat support frameworks.
Back to the Drones, UAVs, UCAVs page