"Mysterious Dragon" - what a... "Hunter"
Well, here we are. This time, the Chinese didn't build up the suspense, as they usually do with their new products, with lengthy "information leaks," but went ahead and dotted and dashed the characters.
Only a month has passed since satellite images were published showing the GJ-11 unmanned aerial vehicles, which were given the name "Sharp Sword" by someone unknown, in a semi-operational state, and now China has published the first video of such a UAV attacks a target in the air. And a bunch of photos showing a real aircraft.
China also said the GJ-11's official name in the People's Liberation Army Air Force is "Mysterious Dragon."
A year has passed since the first reports of China's work on a stealthy unmanned aerial vehicle. It's worth noting that the speed of development is impressive.
A PLAAF video shows a GJ-11 leaving a hangar.
A top view of the GJ-11 in the same video
GJ-11 takes off
Development of the GJ-11 began over a decade ago, and many believe the drone was initially designed for both air-to-ground strike missions and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions. It's likely it will also perform other roles, including air-to-air combat and electronic warfare, though the field for speculation is vast. Unmanned aerial vehicles of this size have a long range, far greater than manned tactical fighters, and can also carry a substantial payload.
Footage of the "dogfight" and other clips featuring the GJ-11 appear at the end of a nearly 30-minute video released by the PLA Air Force to commemorate the 76th anniversary of the founding of the People's Liberation Army. The video specifically shows the GJ-11 flying in formation with a J-20 stealth fighter and a J-16D electronic warfare aircraft. One of the shots also appears to be the first to show a J-20 launching a missile. rocket medium-range air-to-air missiles, most likely PL-15, from an internal weapons bay.
Demonstration drone The flight of these two manned combat aircraft is notable not only because they represent the two most modern and combat-ready models in the PLAAF arsenal. In fact, both the J-16 and the two-seat versions of the J-20 were considered potential flying drone control centers, including for models like the GJ-11.
China is undoubtedly very interested in drones operating alongside aircraft and doing so with a high degree of autonomy. The two-seat J-20 would be an ideal candidate for the role of onboard drone controller.
While some in the expert community have taken this footage as confirmation that the GJ-11 is already in service with the People's Liberation Army Air Force and have begun actively discussing it, it's worth noting that the video alone is not sufficient to confirm that the drone is being used for combat purposes. However, looking forward, this is another sign that this milestone is rapidly approaching. It's only a matter of time.
Last month, numerous Western media outlets published satellite images showing three GJ-11s at Shigatse Air Base in China's Tibet Autonomous Region, where they were stationed from August 6 to September 5. The presence of unmanned aerial vehicles at this busy military-civilian airport was a clear indication that they were undergoing operational testing, if not operational use. Specifically, the base is located in a strategically important location on China's southwestern flank, bordering India, near several border areas where violent clashes between the two countries sometimes occur.
What could this indicate? Perhaps only that a series of tests were conducted under conditions close to real life.
A satellite image taken on August 6, 2025, shows three GJ-11 drones at Shigatse Air Base, along with other drones.
The GJ-11 prototype first flew in 2013 and was far less stealthy than it is today. The design was subsequently significantly refined, and a mockup of the new version appeared at a parade in Beijing in 2019. It featured significant improvements in stealth, including a completely redesigned rear end with a more stealthy exhaust.
Before its sighting in Shigatse and now in PLAAF video, the GJ-11 was known primarily for its appearances at various test sites. Among these locations was the Malan base in Xinjiang Province, where prototypes of the UAV had been flying regularly for over a year. Mock-ups also participated in parades and were spotted at Chinese naval test and training ranges.
A mockup of the GJ-11 was unveiled at a large military parade in Beijing on September 3, 2025.
The PLA clearly intends to operate this drone, or a variant thereof, from aircraft carriers and large amphibious ships, and ongoing work on a naval variant or variant capable of doing so has led to a number of unofficial designations, including GJ-11H, GJ-11J, and GJ-21.
A video recently surfaced online showing the naval version of the drone in flight with its arresting gear down, as seen in the image below.
Whatever the People's Liberation Army's intended use, the GJ-11 once again underlines how seriously China is taking the development of flying wing drones, into which it is currently investing heavily.
A pair of GJ-11s spotted in Malan on July 18, 2024
Meanwhile, other countries are also beginning to invest in flying wing UAV programs, including Russia, India, Türkiye, and France.
Meanwhile, another Chinese stealth wing drone, the CH-7, was spotted in the air for the first time in unofficial footage taken from the ground.
Compared to the drone previously seen on the ground, videos showing the drone in flight show it equipped with additional vertical tail surfaces tilted sideways from the aircraft's axis.
The attachment points for these tail surfaces are visible in the images, and are likely intended for testing as part of capability expansion.
While the CH-7 remains under wraps, experience has shown that everything in good time. It is quite large and is further evidence of China's active efforts to develop stealthy, long-lasting UAVs. The CH-7 is likely designed for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions, but there are claims that it will also perform strike missions as a UAV, possibly with vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL). The CH-7's configuration is similar to the two other flying wing UAVs spotted in Malan, but it is smaller.
Taken together, the new videos of the GJ-11 and CH-7 reflect China's significant investment in flying wing UAVs for both land and sea operations. In the case of the GJ-11 in particular, its path to becoming part of the PLAAF's regular operations should come as no surprise, and it's likely that other Chinese flying wing UAVs and UAVs will follow a similar path.
However, this path will not be strewn with roses, rather the opposite: tests of the Russian S-70 have shown how dependent such devices are on control channels and what a dangerous adversary the complexes are for them. EW.
The fact that the inconspicuous “faithful followers” will sooner or later take their place in the ranks of the modern aviationThere's no doubt about it. The only question is how quickly new methods of controlling drones will emerge that will guarantee complete protection against electronic warfare systems. These systems, of course, won't stand still in terms of development.
Of course, a pair of "faithful wingmen" with additional ammunition, having a greater range than a fighter, a kind of "long arms" with missiles - this is very tempting.
It is no less tempting to take over control of these “slaves” and use their ammunition on the former leaders.
Overall, this is a road that developing countries are just beginning to take. But, as the Chinese themselves say, a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. That step has been taken; we just need to see where this road leads.
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