Serbian armed forces have carried out the first live-firing test with its recently-delivered CH-92A armed unmanned aerial systems, the country’s defense ministry announced.
The Chinese-built CH-92A employed the FT-8C laser-guided rocket against ground targets at the Nikinci shooting range in the country’s northwest.
The successful launch of the 44-pound rocket, which has a range of up to 5.5 miles, is part of a system acceptance package that the country is undertaking after receiving six CH-92A UAS from China in July 2020. The defense ministry noted on October 21 that the testing was almost complete with just one day of testing left before the system could be accepted.
CH-92A is part of the Rainbow series of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) developed by the China Academy of Aerospace Aerodynamics of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC), the CH-92A can target positions from a distance of 9 kilometers, and provide surveillance in a radius of 250 kilometers. The fixed-wing UAV is mainly intended for reconnaissance and surveillance missions and has a maximum altitude of 5,000 kilometers.
Serbia is the first European country to acquire a Chinese UAS and the first in the Western Balkans to introduce an armed UAS capability.
Serbia’s defense ministry said the delivery was part of a transfer of technology deal that would allow the country to advance its UAS knowledge. Serbia is currently locally developing a smaller Pegaz UAS that will operate alongside the CH-92A.
