Video shows China’s huge ‘GJ‑X’ stealth drone in air for the first time, signaling potential threat to US security
The GJ-X is a large “crank kite” flying wing drone first identified in satellite images from the Malan test base in China’s Xinjiang province. These images, analyzed by the website The War Zone, estimate its wingspan to be around 42 meters (137 feet), placing it in a rare class among stealth uncrewed aircraft.
A recently released video clip provided the first visual confirmation of the GJ-X in flight. The images show the underside of the drone with a reverse-shaded paint scheme designed to distort its shape and reduce visibility from below. The purpose of this camouflage technique is to make the aircraft harder to detect from altitude, and may have been a deliberate design choice to improve the aircraft’s stealth capabilities.
The exact role of GJ-X remains speculative. Some analysts suggest it could function as a large unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) capable of kinetic operations, while others suggest it could serve as a high-altitude, long-endurance reconnaissance platform. US Air ForceIt is said to be RQ-180. Given its size and design, a multi-role capability covering both attack and surveillance missions is also a possibility.
This initiative is part of a series of advanced stealth aircraft developments, including the J-36 ultra-heavy stealth tactical jet and the J-XDS fighter jet, both of which have been observed in recent test flights.
