Fei Hong series UAVs are displayed at Airshow China 2021 in Zhuhai, South China's Guangdong Province. Photo: Courtesy of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation

China's domestically developed FH-95 electronic warfare unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) passed a milestone test that examined the aircraft's performance, with experts saying on Tuesday that the new UAV's electronic warfare capabilities will add a new dimension to the popular armed reconnaissance drones.

Independently developed by the Aerospace Times Feihong Technology Co (ATFTC) under the state-owned China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp, the medium-range, electronic warfare armed reconnaissance drone FH-95 successfully completed a performance test at an undisclosed test base, Beijing-based magazine Unmanned Vehicles reported on Monday.

The FH-95 series drone has a ton-class takeoff weight, can carry more than 250 kilograms of a wide selection of mission payloads, and has an endurance of more than 24 hours, allowing the operator to conduct complex combat missions including comprehensive reconnaissance in highly contested battlefield environments, as well as electronic warfare and pinpoint elimination, the report said.

In addition to traditional missions like armed reconnaissance, border patrol and maritime surveillance, the FH-95 electronic warfare drone can work in a formation with other types of drones, providing electronic jamming and cover for the latter as they conduct other missions, the magazine said.

Electronic warfare is a vital component of modern combat, Chen Jianguo, the ATFTC's general manager and researcher, told the Global Times in an exclusive interview at the Airshow China 2021 held in Zhuhai, South China's Guangdong Province, where the FH-95 was on display.

Drones capable of electronic warfare, reconnaissance and early warning will become essential in combat as they can conduct remote detection outside the defense area or carry out tactical feints and saturated attacks in coordination with manned aircraft, Chen said.

Contemporary popular drones are mainly designed for reconnaissance and attack roles, so a drone capable of electronic warfare will provide a new dimension to drone deployment, a Beijing-based military expert who requested anonymity told the Global Times on Tuesday.

In a possible combat scenario, the FH-95 electronic warfare drone could conduct electromagnetic interference first, providing cover for the FH-97, a high-speed stealth drone, to penetrate and destroy hostile defense lines. The FH-92A, a type of traditional armed reconnaissance drone, can then conduct follow-up attacks, the Global Times learned from the ATFTC.

The FH-95 series drone completed its first test flight in 2017, was delivered to a key client in 2019, and received its first export contract in 2021, according to Unmanned Vehicles.

A new variant in the FH-95 series has been carrying out test flights in a test base in Northwest China recently, the report said, without giving more details.