A new type of shipborne unmanned helicopter developed by the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) made its maiden flight recently in Poyang County, east China's Jiangxi Province. 

During its maiden flight, the AR-500CJ aircraft completed training courses in manned take-off, landing, hovering and other areas and landed smoothly. 

The aircraft was in good condition, and all systems were functioning normally, marking its official entry into the test flight phase from the design and production phase. 

The AR-500CJ developed by a research institute of the AVIC is an updated version of the AR-500BJ, a lightweight shipborne unmanned helicopter that can be used for both military and civilian applications such as maritime search and rescue. 

Compared with the AR-500BJ, the AR-500CJ's flight performance and mission have been comprehensively improved through technological breakthroughs. 

The aircraft will undergo functional and performance test flights in China and is due to pass its technical appraisal in 2023.