Equipment / Aircraft / GJ-11 Sharp Sword UCAV

GJ-11 Sharp Sword UCAV

UAV / Droneconfirmed

GJ-11 Sharp Sword UCAV

The GJ-11 Sharp Sword is a stealthy, jet-powered unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) featuring a flying wing design. It is designed for deep-penetration precision strike, reconnaissance, and suppression of enemy air defenses (SEAD) in highly contested environments. The system is intended to operate either independently or as a 'loyal wingman' alongside manned stealth fighters like the J-20.

Specifications

TypeUAV / Drone
OriginChina
ManufacturerAviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) / Hongdu Aviation Industry Group
Introduced2025
StatusIn development
Max speed1000
Range4000
Ceiling12500
Crew0 (unmanned)

History

The GJ-11 originated from the 'Sharp Sword' (Liujian) technology demonstrator program, jointly developed by the Shenyang Aircraft Design Institute and Hongdu Aviation Industry Group, which conducted its maiden flight in November 2013. An extensively modified, highly stealthy production variant was officially revealed to the public during China's National Day parade in October 2019. The UCAV features dual internal weapons bays and a stealth-optimized exhaust nozzle to minimize its radar and infrared signatures. It represents a significant leap in the People's Liberation Army's (PLA) power projection capabilities, enabling high-threat penetration missions and carrier-capable operations in the future.

Operators

CountryQuantityConfidence
China—confirmed

Text adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo from Wikimedia Commons; see the Wikipedia article for author and license.

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