Latest Chinese GJ-11 "Sharp Sword" Drone Seen at an Air Base in Tibet

The Chinese Air Force has deployed the GJ-11 Gonji-11 ("Sharp Sword") stealth attack UAV for the first time at Shigatse Air Base in Tibet, near the Indian border.

Images released by the open source satellite imagery provider, Planet Lab show several GJ-11 stealth reconnaissance & attack present at the Shigatse Air Base between August to September this year.

The GJ-11 was released for public display at the Air Show China in November though the drone has been in development for several years now.

The UAV has a takeoff weight of 10 tons, a flight speed of up to 1,050 km/h, and a range of up to 1,200 km. It can operate in "unmanned wingman" mode, with command and control provided by J-20A and  J-16 manned fighter jets. It can be armed with several types of air-to-air and air-to-surface missiles which are housed in its internal weapons bay to greatly reduce its radar signature.

The deployment of the GJ-11 at the strategically important base would indicate an operational test and might point to the GJ-11 having reached a semi-operational state. The Sharp Sword is a prime example of China’s prowess in flying-wing uncrewed aircraft, which are reported to stealthier than drones of conventional design.

The GJ-11 Sharp Sword to be designed to penetrate enemy airspace without being detected and perform air-to-surface strike and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions. It can also be used for air-to-air combat as an electronic warfare platform.