The Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology has successfully developed a long-range drone designed to serve scientific and surveillance purposes.

The unmanned aerial vehicle, launched Tuesday, is designed with a wingspan of 22 meters and weighs 1,250 kilograms. It can fly for 35 hours, or more than 4,000 kilometers. 

Dr. Pham Ngoc Lang, who heads a drone research project at the academy, said this proves that Vietnam is capable of manufacturing drones to serve socio-economic development and national defense.

The academy, with approval from the central government and the military, since 2013 has been testing five drone models and conducted 253 trial flights in Hanoi, the Central Highlands and Van Phong Bay off the central coast.