China flies massive new stealth ‘GJ-X’ drone in public for the first time
October 20, 2025
China has flown a large new stealth ‘cranked kite’ flying-wing drone in broad daylight, allowing people to film it in flight for the first time. The aircraft is unofficially dubbed the GJ-X online, though its formal designation has not been confirmed.
China flies ‘GJ-X’ drone in public
The ‘GJ-X’ drone seen flying appears to be the same large drone as previously reported by AGN amid the growing list of stealth-shaped aircraft emerging in China. The aircraft was originally reported on by The War Zone in September after being found in satellite images.
As it seems, likely the huge GJ-X UCAV was seen again.https://t.co/adZRqExhBh pic.twitter.com/aq5IOzLBZd
— @Rupprecht_A (@RupprechtDeino) October 19, 2025
It is unclear if the aircraft seen flying was the same aircraft seen on the runway or if it was a related aircraft.
While the GJ-X is clearly large, it is not the largest such aircraft China has in its inventory. Some outlets report the aircraft’s wingspan as more than the new US strategic bomber, the B-21 Raider. However, The War Zone refutes the latter claim, saying it’s unlikely.
Modern stealth aircraft, like the F-35, come with highly specialised paint. One interesting attribute of the GJ-X is that its undersiding seems to have a counter-shaded coating. This may be intended to make it more difficult to assess its shape at altitude.
Unclear role of the ‘GJ-X’
The role of the GJ-X remains a topic of debate, with the jury still out. Some, including Chinese military watchers, assert it is a very large unmanned combat air vehicle (UCAV). They claim the main role of the aircraft is combat, carrying missiles.
Others point to the US Air Force’s massive semi-secret RQ-180 Sentinel that is believed to have been in service for a decade, but never officially seen in public. The RQ-180 is believed to be a high-altitude, long-endurance stealth drone with reconnaissance as its primary role.
Another scaled comparison take of the new UCAV/GJ-X, this time with H-6 and Y-20…
— Rick Joe (@RickJoe_PLA) September 19, 2025
Via 幽窗子-SukhoiT10 https://t.co/ZzkdsBCC6k pic.twitter.com/2r0K0islTJ
Another option is that the aircraft could have multirole capabilities, but it is just not clear based on available information. In any case, it’s clear that the speed of China’s combat aircraft development is breathtaking.
The two-horse US/China advanced drone and stealth race
China and the US are now locked in an arms race, with each preparing to fight the other. Other countries like Turkey, Russia, and others are developing stealth-like autonomous aircraft, but those countries are nowhere near the US and China’s league.
NEW: China is testing its large unmanned stealth bomber, likely the GJ-X UCAV.
— Clash Report (@clashreport) October 19, 2025
The drone’s wingspan reportedly exceeds 42 m. pic.twitter.com/IKSdQVV9Fc
The US is rushing the development of its sixth-generation F-47 fighter jet and is working to ramp up production of its new B-21 Raider.
Off-the-cuff comments by Trump recently appear to suggest the US has ordered, or is about to order, 28 new B-21 Raiders, which he confusingly called “updated B-2s.”
Over the last year, China has been unveiling a slew of new advanced stealth aircraft, both crewed and uncrewed. These range from the J-35 fifth-generation fighter now in serial production to the so-called J-36 three-engine tailless jet and the heavy tailless J-XDS. Additionally, it has displayed numerous stealthy drones of various sizes and mission sets.
By contrast, the US has largely kept a lid on its new stealth programmes, with the B-21 Raider one of the few to have images released to the public. None of the demonstrators first flown for the Air Force’s NGAD have been seen in public, just as no images or accurate renders of the Navy’s F/A-XX demonstrators have been seen.
Only two official partial renders of the F-47 have been seen, although these are thought to include misdirections. Other uncrewed US stealth aircraft, like the RQ-180, remain beyond the public view.
Featured Image: X/Chinese social media
