WJ-700 Lieying HALE Drone

CASIC WJ is a series of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) developed by the 3rd Academy Hiwing of the China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation (CASIC), and the academy is also more commonly known as HiWING Mechanical and Electrical Technology Corp., or HiWING for short.

Developed by the Third Academy of CASIC, the WJ-700 was first publicly unveiled as a mockup at the Zhuhai Airshow in 2018. The drone successfully completed its maiden flight in January 2021, marking a major milestone in its development cycle. As a jet-powered HALE platform, it represents a significant shift for Chinese UAV design, prioritizing high-speed transit and altitude survivability over traditional propeller-driven endurance. The system is currently undergoing advanced flight testing and systems integration, aiming to provide the PLA and export customers with a survivable, heavy-payload strike-reconnaissance asset.