Named 'Aquila' the drone is part of the company's ambitious internet.org project to deliver high speed internet connectivity to hundreds-of-millions of people in far flung parts of the world.
Facebook chief Mark Zuckerberg said: "We've successfully tested a new laser that can transmit data at 10 gigabits per second.
"That's ten times faster than any previous system, and it can accurately connect with a point the size of a dime from more than 10 miles away.
"This effort is important because 10% of the world's population lives in areas without existing internet infrastructure. To affordably connect everyone, we need to build completely new technologies.”
The company said they would work with UK engineers from a company with a historic legacy in long-distance solar-powered flight.
A statement issued by Facebook said: "Our team has many of the world's leading experts in aerospace and communications technology, including from NASA's Jet Propulsion Lab and Ames Research Center.
"Today we are also bringing on key members of the team from Ascenta, a small UK-based company whose founders created early versions of Zephyr, which became the world’s longest flying solar-powered unmanned aircraft."
It comes as Google pursues Project Loon, its own mission to bring Wi-Fi to remote countries using giant 'loon balloons' said to be able to stay aloft for 100 days at a time.
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