China's state media has aired the most detailed footage yet of its Gongji-11 stealth strike drone, offering close-up views of the aircraft both on the ground and in flight. The GJ-11 is designed for deep ground strikes and can operate alongside crewed fighter jets as a wingman, according to Chinese state media. The United States explored a similar stealth strike drone but shifted its focus to aerial refueling around 2016.
The new footage, aired by state broadcaster CCTV, shows the drone's twin internal weapon bays with sawtooth-edged doors to help break up radar signals, a nose-mounted electro-optical and infrared sensor resembling those on fifth-generation fighters, and its landing gear. The GJ-11 has a tailless flying-wing shape with an estimated 47-foot wingspan.
China first unveiled the drone at a national day parade in 2019 and indicated in 2025 that it was in service by releasing footage of it flying alongside fighter jets. This is the first time the People's Liberation Army Air Force has published multi-angle, close-up views of the drone.
State media presenters said the GJ-11 can carry multiple guided bombs and precision-strike munitions to hit fortified ground targets such as command posts and air defenses. They also said the drone could help crewed fighters with reconnaissance. However, the footage did not show the types of weapons it can carry, and it remains unclear whether the drone is meant to engage in or directly assist with air-to-air combat, or whether it has autonomous capabilities. Ground crews monitored and controlled the drone from a mobile command trailer, and a separate CCTV report highlighted two of the PLAAF's first female drone operators launching a live-fire strike test.
Beijing also said in October it had developed a naval version, the GJ-21, which took off from an amphibious assault ship, though no footage was released.
The United States pursued a comparable stealth strike drone for years, building the Northrop Grumman X-47B demonstrator that proved a flying-wing drone could operate from an aircraft carrier. But in 2016, the Pentagon shifted the program toward an aerial refueling drone, the MQ-25 Stingray. Washington is now focusing on Collaborative Combat Aircraft: attritable, mass-produced drones meant to accompany crewed fighters.
Russia is also developing a deep-strike drone, the Sukhoi S-70 Okhotnik-B, but it appears less advanced than the GJ-11. In 2024, a prototype was shot down over Ukraine by a Russian fighter jet after likely losing control.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The GJ-11 represents a significant advance in China's unmanned strike capability, potentially altering the balance of air power.
- It underscores the divergence in US and Chinese military technology choices, with China operationalizing a deep-strike stealth drone while the US moved to alternative concepts.
- This development may accelerate the US Collaborative Combat Aircraft program and shape future air warfare tactics.
Background
China first revealed the GJ-11 at a national day parade in 2019. Footage released in 2025 showed it working alongside fighter jets, indicating it had entered service. The US explored similar technology for years, culminating in the X-47B demonstrator, but decided in 2016 to focus on an aerial refueling drone instead. The US is now developing Collaborative Combat Aircraft, attritable drones for teaming with fighters. Russia is also working on a deep-strike drone, the Okhotnik-B, but it has faced setbacks.
What to Watch
- Future releases of footage showing weapons deployment or tests.
- Progress of the US Collaborative Combat Aircraft program.
- Further development of the naval variant GJ-21 and its deployment.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 11 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedChina has released its clearest footage yet of the GJ-11 stealth strike drone.All Content from Business Insider: “China has released its clearest footage so far of its high-end stealth strike drone”
- SupportedThe US shelved a similar stealth strike drone class in 2016.All Content from Business Insider: “The US previously explored making a similar drone, but pivoted away from the idea in 2016.”
- SupportedThe GJ-11 is intended for deep ground strikes and can work alongside crewed fighters as a wingman.All Content from Business Insider: “Beijing says it's a stealth platform for hitting ground targets that can team up with fighter jets.”
- SupportedCCTV footage shows the GJ-11's weapon bays, nose-mounted sensor and landing gear.All Content from Business Insider: “State media outlet CCTV aired segments this week featuring the Gongji-11, or GJ-11, ... showing off its weapon bays, nose-mounted sensor, and landing gear.”
- SupportedThe GJ-11 has an estimated 47-foot wingspan.All Content from Business Insider: “With an estimated 47-foot wingspan, it has a stealthy airframe”
- SupportedChina first unveiled the drone at a national day parade in 2019.All Content from Business Insider: “Chinese forces first unveiled the tailless drone in 2019 at a national day parade in Beijing”
- SupportedChina indicated in 2025 that the drone was in service by showing it flying alongside fighter jets.All Content from Business Insider: “then indicated in 2025 that it was in service by releasing footage of the GJ-11 flying alongside fighter jets.”
- SupportedThis is the first time the PLAAF has published multi-angle, close-up views of the GJ-11, on the ground and in flight.All Content from Business Insider: “This is the first time the People's Liberation Army Air Force is publishing multi-angle, close-up views of the GJ-11, both on the ground and in flight.”
- SupportedState media presenters said the GJ-11 can carry multiple guided bombs and precision-strike munitions against fortified targets.All Content from Business Insider: “state media presenters said the GJ-11 can carry multiple guided bombs and precision-strike munitions for fortified ground targets such as command posts or air defenses.”
- SupportedWhether the GJ-11 has autonomous capabilities remains unclear.All Content from Business Insider: “It's also unclear whether the drone has any autonomous capabilities”
- SupportedThe US's X-47B demonstrated carrier operation, and in 2016 the Pentagon shifted the program toward an aerial refueling aircraft.All Content from Business Insider: “the X-47B, which the Navy used to prove that a flying-wing stealth drone with internal weapons could take off from an aircraft carrier and refuel autonomously. ... in 2016, the Pentagon shifted the program toward making a refueler aircraft, the MQ-25 Stingray”
- Partly supportedA Russian fighter jet shot down the S-70 prototype over Ukraine in 2024 after it likely lost control.All Content from Business Insider: “In 2024, a prototype for the drone was mysteriously shot down over Ukraine by a Russian fighter jet. Western intelligence said it was likely Russia lost control of the Okhotnik-B and shot it down”