China’s New Flying Wing Drone GJ-X: China has once again captured the world’s attention with its new advanced weapon. This time, a new flying-wing drone has been spotted flying for the first time. It is unofficially called the GJ-X. It is believed to be a next-generation unmanned bomber. A video of this drone is rapidly going viral on social media. Experts say that it is a large, stealthy, cranked-kite design drone that could pose a challenge to US bombers. This new Chinese weapon could be a cause for concern not only for the US but also for India.
China’s New Flying Wing Drone GJ-X: Drone Presence at Malan Air Base
According to The War Zone, a similar drone was spotted in satellite imagery at Malan Air Base in Xinjiang in August. This drone has a wingspan of 42 meters (138 feet). This large wingspan places it in the rare category of unmanned stealth aircraft. Specifically, the new drone is close to the size of the American bomber, the Northrop Grumman B-21 Raider. The B-21 is also a stealth strategic bomber, with a wingspan of approximately 40-42 meters.
Purpose and Expert Opinions
The drone’s purpose is not yet fully clear. However, some military experts consider it an uncrewed fighter aircraft with extended capabilities, while others refer to it as an unmanned stealth bomber. Chinese military expert and Shenzhen TV commentator Chen Xi stated that the drone spotted at the Malan base is a medium-range strategic bomber. The H-20 bomber hasn’t arrived yet, but we now have a medium-range strategic aircraft of similar size to the B-21. Remember, in 2016, China announced the development of a new long-range bomber, later named the H-20 stealth bomber.
Technical Features
According to War Zone’s report, the new aircraft spotted at the Malan base has a split rudder similar to that of the B-2 stealth bomber. A small, slightly off-centre bulge is also visible on the rear of the jet, indicating a twin-engine design. This new model is one of several drones and unmanned aerial vehicles being tested by China.
The aircraft’s design is similar to the CH-7 or Caihong-7 drone, which was unveiled at the Zhuhai Air Show last year. According to some key technical details of the CH-7 drone, it has a wingspan of 27.3 meters and a maximum take-off weight of 8 tons. Its cruise speed is Mach 0.5, making it a fast and competent reconnaissance aircraft.
