Is this new tailless UAV China’s answer to next-generation drone warfare?

A new video circulating online shows what appears to be a Chinese tailless drone flying in formation with a turboprop, offering a rare glimpse at the country’s progress in developing collaborative combat aircraft.

The footage, first circulated at the weekend on China’s social media platform Weibo, reveals the tailless aircraft with a distinctive diamond-shaped delta wing configuration. Accompanying the drone is a Y-8 or Y-9 turboprop-powered transport aircraft, with another similar aircraft trailing separately.

An additional still image, apparently a frame from a separate video featuring the same drone, emerged simultaneously on the social media platform X.

While bearing a similar tailless shape to China’s next-generation fighter prototypes – namely the Chengdu J-36 or Shenyang J-50 – the drone’s design differs from and appears smaller than those aircraft.

Based on its size relative to the turboprop, the drone appears longer – at about 15 metres (50 feet) – than known “loyal wingman” drones, which typically measure between 9 and 12 metres.

The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has been actively developing multiple loyal wingman drones and teaming crewed-uncrewed abilities.

While the stealthy GJ-11 combat drone remains central to these efforts, China has unveiled other lower-tier uncrewed designs intended to closely coordinate with crewed aircraft.

Notably, the FH-97A by China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation was showcased at the Zhuhai air show last year and promoted as a loyal wingman capable of “leading swarms of smaller drones”.

  

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