Engineering:Hongdu GJ-11

From HandWiki
GJ-11 Sharp Sword
Mock-up of GJ-11 displayed at Airshow China in 2021
Role Unmanned combat aerial vehicle
National origin People's Republic of China
Manufacturer Hongdu Aviation Industry Group
Designer Shenyang Aircraft Design Institute
Hongdu Aviation Industry Group
Aviation Industry Corporation of China
First flight November 2013
Status Testing
Primary user People's Liberation Army Air Force

The Hongdu GJ-11 Sharp Sword (Chinese: 攻击-11 利剑; pinyin: gongji-11 lì jiàn) is an unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) developed in the People's Republic of China for the People's Liberation Army. It was designed by Shenyang Aircraft Design Institute (SYADI) and Hongdu Aviation Industry Group (HAIG), and is part of seven proposed models by the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) program called "AVIC 601-S".[1][2][3] The GJ-11 can perform precision strike and aerial reconnaissance missions.[2][4]

GJ-11 at Airshow China Zhuhai 2021

Development

Early versions were less stealthy with an exposed engine nozzle.[5]

Images of the aircraft's 20 minute long maiden flight appeared on the internet on November 21st 2013, where the "Sharp Sword" took off from HAIG airfield.[6][3]

In October 2021, AVIC showcased the GJ-11 at Airshow China. The drone is reportedly capable of taking off autonomously from Type 076 amphibious assault ships. The stealthy drone could deploy swarming air-launched decoys or electronic warfare systems, in addition to launching precision-guided munitions.[7][8]

In October 2022, Chinese media showcased the computer-generated concepts of three GJ-11 being controlled by a two-seat variant of the Chengdu J-20 fighter jet, akin to the Loyal Wingman program of the United States.[9]

The drone was in testing and evaluation as of 2021,[10] with serial production planned for 2022.[11]

In 2024, multiple GJ-11 drones were observed in the PLAAF Malan Air Base, a major hub for testing unmanned platforms. PLA also tested the integration of GJ-11 with manned aircraft as manned-unmanned teams. A naval variant was under development for Type 076 big-deck amphibious assault ships.[12]

Operational testing continued in late-2025 at Shigatse Peace Airport. A mockup was displayed at the 2025 China Victory Day Parade.[13]

Design

The GJ-11 uses a tailless flying wing design[2] with two internal weapons bays.[14][2] Stealth features include the shaping of the rear airframe around the engine exhaust[4] and serrated weapon bay doors.[14] The aircraft is powered by a single turbofan engine of unknown type, and the overall wingspan is 14 meters.[15]

The GJ-11 is referred to as the "loyal wingman" by the Chinese military.[16][17]

Variants

GJ-11
Original variant
GJ-11J
Also designated GJ-21,[18] naval carrier-based variant.[19]

Specifications

Chinese UCAV Sharp Sword (approximate appearance)

General characteristics

  • Crew: None
  • Length: 12.2[14] m (40 ft 0 in)
  • Wingspan: 14.4[14] m (47 ft 3 in)
  • Height: 2.7[14] m (8 ft 10 in)
  • Powerplant: 1 × unnamed Guizhou-built[20] turbofan

Performance Armament

  • Internal weapons bays:
    • Up to 2,000 kilograms (4,400 lb) payload[2]
    • Bombs[14]

References

  1. ↑ D'Urso, Stefano (2019-10-01). "China Exhibits New Sharp Sword UCAV During Military Parade for PRC's 70th Anniversary" (in en-US). https://theaviationist.com/2019/10/01/china-exhibits-new-sharp-sword-ucav-during-military-parade-for-prcs-70th-anniversary/. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Wood, Peter; Cliff, Roger (November 2020). Chinese Airborne C4ISR. United States Department of the Air Force China Aerospace Studies Institute. p. 21. ISBN 9798583085569. https://www.airuniversity.af.edu/CASI/Display/Article/2450727/chinese-airborne-c4isr/. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Axe, David (21 November 2013). "Now China's Got a Stealthy Killer Drone". war-is-boring. https://medium.com/war-is-boring/1766036badc0. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Williams, Ian; Dahlgren, Masao (16 October 2019). More Than Missiles: China Previews its New Way of War. https://www.csis.org/analysis/more-missiles-china-previews-its-new-way-war. Retrieved 11 December 2022. 
  5. ↑ Trimble, Stephen (21 May 2013). "New tailless UAV design proclaims Chinese ambition". Gale General OneFile. https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A331227107/ITOF?u=wikipedia&sid=ebsco&xid=da3bf0a9. 
  6. ↑ Cenciotti, David (2013-11-22). "[Video China's first Weaponized Stealth Drone makes maiden flight"] (in en-US). https://theaviationist.com/2013/11/22/lijian-first-flight/. 
  7. ↑ Trevithick, Joseph (11 October 2021). "Chinese Flying Wing Drones Launch Swarming Decoys At Enemy Warships In Industry Video". https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/42694/chinese-flying-wing-drones-launch-swarming-decoys-at-enemy-warships-in-industry-video. 
  8. ↑ Paleja, Ameya (11 October 2021). "China Unveils Long-Range GJ-11 Drones That Can Launch Decoys At Enemy Warships". https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/china-unveils-long-range-gj-11-drones-that-can-launch-decoys-at-enemy-warships. 
  9. ↑ Meier, Ricardo (12 October 2022). "Chinese two-seat J-20 fighter jet controlling three GJ-11 stealth drones". https://www.airdatanews.com/chinese-two-seat-j-20-fighter-jet-controlling-three-gj-11-stealth-drones/. 
  10. ↑ Thompson, Drew (7 June 2021) (in en). Asia-Pacific Regional Security Assessment 2021. Routledge. p. 242. ISBN 978-1-000-47449-7. https://books.google.com/books?id=xvAxEAAAQBAJ&pg=PT242. 
  11. ↑ Thompson 2021, p. 244.
  12. ↑ Trevithick, Joseph (5 September 2024). "Chinese Flying Wing UCAV Testing Accelerating Based On Satellite Imagery, Videos". https://www.twz.com/air/chinese-flying-wing-ucav-testing-accelerating-based-on-satellite-imagery-videos. 
  13. ↑ Trevithick, Joseph. "China’s Stealth Sharp Sword Unmanned Combat Air Vehicles Deployed To Operational Airbase". http://twz.com/air/chinas-stealth-sharp-sword-unmanned-combat-air-vehicles-deployed-to-operational-airbase. 
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 14.4 14.5 "歼20性能数据首次披露：最大飞行速度2马赫" (in Chinese). 2021-09-28. http://www.xinhuanet.com/mil/2021-09/28/c_1211385667.htm. 
  15. ↑ "GJ-11 UAV displayed on Chinese National Day". 3 October 2022. https://airrecognition.com/index.php/news/defense-aviation-news/2022-news-aviation-aerospace/october/8729-gj-11-uav-displayed-on-chinese-national-day.html. 
  16. ↑ SCMP Team (3 September 2025). "China parades new weapons in show of ‘strategic ace’ deterrence – as it happened". https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3324119/victory-day-military-parade-china-puts-weapons-progress-and-troops-show. 
  17. ↑ Kajal, Kapil (3 September 2025). "From nuclear triad to hypersonics: What China unveiled in largest military parade ever". https://interestingengineering.com/military/china-showed-biggest-military-parade. 
  18. ↑ Waldron, Greg (3 September 2025). "China unveils new support aircraft but no stealth bomber at World War II anniversary parade". https://www.flightglobal.com/defence/chinas-military-parade-delivers-more-pageantry-than-airpower-innovation/164355.article. 
  19. ↑ Malyasov, Dylan (18 August 2025). "Analyst: China’s air power display exceeds expectations". https://defence-blog.com/analyst-chinas-air-power-display-exceeds-expectations/. 
  20. ↑ "航空报国酬壮志 长天映照赤子心——记贵州航空发动机研究所副总设计师韩冬". 中工网. 2015-04-27. Archived from the original on 2015-09-23. https://web.archive.org/web/20150923060631/http://gz.workercn.cn/23345/201504/27/150427112947712.shtml. 

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