China's mysterious GJ-X UCAV and WZ-X HALE UAV

Posted by tigeryi98@reddit | WeirdWings | View on Reddit | 44 comments

Both GJ-X UCAV (unmanned stealth bomber) and WZ-X HALE (ISR UAV) are first reported by The War Zone led by Tyler Rogoway.

Additional Sources: Andreas Rupprecht, Rick Joe PLA, Zhao DaShuai, PLAOSINT, etc.

Xinjiang Malan Airbase, PLAAF's 178th UAV Brigade.

Google Map location 42°10'51"N 087°11'11"E: https://maps.app.goo.gl/8NMBogenLurPP5ss9

The War Zone related articles:

https://www.twz.com/air/large-cranked-kite-flying-wing-drone-appears-at-chinese-test-base

https://www.twz.com/air/massive-chinese-stealth-flying-wing-emerges-at-secretive-base

https://www.twz.com/air/large-stealth-flying-wing-aircraft-photographed-over-china

[-]

josefrieper@reddit

They're trying to force the burgers into economic warfare where they have to dedicate their gutted manufacturing and R&D base into multiple projects at once.

Exact same technique the burgers used on the Soviets.

[-]

I-Fuck-Frogs@reddit

Are there pics of the J-50 on the ground?!?

[-]

F6Collections@reddit

Lollllll

The way, the emergence of all of these planes has been explained to me is that China has a different development process in the west, and many of these may just be demonstrators

[-]

Very like aircraft development was in the US and U.K. in the 40s/50s. Lots of manufacturers building prototypes and demonstrators and hoping to get a government order out of it. Or competing for a government spec and all making prototypes for it. Much more interesting than today’s method of manufacturers making pretty CGI.

[-]

F6Collections@reddit

More interesting and less efficient.

They are also miles off from us in terms of engine tech and materials science.

[-]

TestyBoy13@reddit

The country that has better hypersonic missiles than us is miles behind us in engine and material tech??? The country that’s made over 3 jets in active service for years now that are known to be as fast as our F-35s are behind???

We are living in 2005 anymore. Stop underestimating the Chinese

[-]

WhichNegotiation3670@reddit

The issue is not that the J-35 is exceptionally strong, but that the F-35 falls short — it is a platform compromised by the attempt to fulfill too many roles, ultimately excelling at none. By contrast, the F-22 remains a far superior, and arguably the best, air superiority fighter.

[-]

cocoadelica@reddit

Sometimes efficiency is not the goal when you need to catch up fast and have abundant resources

[-]

F6Collections@reddit

They don’t have abundant resources, and the fact they have three engines on their largest manned fighter/bomber is indicative of underpowered engines.

[-]

TenshouYoku@reddit

Bro they are literally the 1st/2nd richest country and has the most powerful manufacturing capacity, a demonstrator that would prove tech concepts is hardly pocket change for them especially this trains more engineers

Besides the fact that the WS-15 is already pretty much F22 tier if not more aside, more power is always gonna beat less power especially depending on what they are carrying

[-]

d_e_u_s@reddit

You can use google

[-]

F6Collections@reddit

Reddit is a place where we discuss things fyi.

Not respond “google it”.

Try having a discussion sometime instead of rushing to make a snarky comment, you may enjoy yourself.

[-]

d_e_u_s@reddit

I'm sorry if I didn't understand your comment, but weren't you literally asking if there are pictures of J-50 flying? If that was what you were asking, the easiest way to access them is by googling it. I didn't mean any harm, I didn't realize there was a discussion at all.

[-]

tigeryi98@reddit (OP)

https://www.reddit.com/r/WeirdWings/comments/1nk1rdp/observations_of_flight_tests_of_the_jxds_in/

Here is the video that was posted yesterday here in this sub. Kinda surprising how new is this lol

[-]

Rooilia@reddit

Anyone else amazed about china displaying (all) their UAVs on one strip for us?

I don't think they hide anything. As soon as it flys, it is parked outside.

[-]

DisdudeWoW@reddit

its for propaganda, simple as and its working great.

[-]

tigeryi98@reddit (OP)

very significant development for the H-20 stealth bomber project.

It is either cancelled and replaced, or delayed and redesigned given the existence of GJ-X

[-]

Old_Wallaby_7461@reddit

I would agree that there is no point to a strategic UCAV and a strategic manner bomber. B-21 is supposed to do both jobs for the USA, after all.

[-]

DisdudeWoW@reddit

a strategic UCAV is not easy to do, if you want it to be autonomous then its likely to have limitations that a manned bomber doesnt have, for example b21 is also capable of serving an air superioty role.

[-]

ShakyBrainSurgeon@reddit

Ramping up their airforce at an alarming rate.

[-]

SpaceMonkey_1969@reddit

They have an almost completely new Air Force

[-]

ShakyBrainSurgeon@reddit

Yes and they did that in like 15 years or so, Meanwhile the EU slowly retires the Tornado (youngest models being 26 years old at this point) and the FCAS is meant to enter service in the 2040´s...

[-]

SpaceMonkey_1969@reddit

And the US is trying to keep the F-15 & 16’s flying as the main fighter force

[-]

ShakyBrainSurgeon@reddit

Indeed but both are still getting produced as new modernized variants and their purpose is to be flown when stealth is no longer needed. Especially the F-15EX is meant as a fast missile truck. The EU has no domestic equavalent to the F-35 or anything to counter the most recent Chinese jets and drones.

[-]

SpaceMonkey_1969@reddit

I think the us has the only counter air craft and it’s the aging 22 and the new 35, which is amazing with its capabilities they just gotta sort out all the growing pain bugs first

[-]

DisdudeWoW@reddit

now f35 has problems but j20 was without its proper engines for a long while and even now that it has its engines china isnt going to make its mishaps public.

[-]

ShakyBrainSurgeon@reddit

Correct, that + some black budget stuff but as you wrote: The F-22 is aging but the F-35 despite its problems is nothing short of a wonder. I don´t expect the Chinese to not encounter the same issues as the US did with the Lightning II.

[-]

SpaceMonkey_1969@reddit

Right I love watching the hate for fat Amy but it’s a shiny new toy and has its bugs, they all do! Especially now with the amount of software in that thing. It’s basically a flying supercomputer with a gun. I still worry though we just have that and now the b-21 which doesn’t cover much, we need the loyal wingman or what ever that program is called now plus something to replace the 22 as the 35 isn’t a dedicated dog fighter.

[-]

ShakyBrainSurgeon@reddit

Yeah, but assume you will ever need a dogfighter again, the F-16 and F-15 are more than capable at that. There was a case in the 90´s where a F-16 pilot dodged several SAM missiles by high G turns. I am not expecting this to work with modern systems but you could do it and I don´t see a reason why you couldn´t get thrust vectoring on both planes. In fact there was quite the experimentation on that with the F-15 Active.

[-]

SpaceMonkey_1969@reddit

Oh yea I’ve seen that f-16 vid, very nerve-racking. And the f-15 with the vectoring thrust was a really cool concept but I think with BVR becoming mainstream and the 22 with its stealth canceled that really. I personally wish we had a capable multi roll UAS that could couple with the 35 or what ever this ngad turns out to be.

[-]

DisdudeWoW@reddit

f15e and ex are still extremely important f16 is also plenty usefull.

china still has j6 and j7s in service

[-]

aviationevangelist@reddit

Have traced the evolution of flying wings. Enjoy the read. http://theaviationevangelist.com/2025/09/13/the-evolution-of-the-flying-wing-part-one/

[-]

Thusfffbogsehbse@reddit

Having an unmanned bomber of this size is kind of surprising. I wonder if it is optionally manned or something.

[-]

Thusfffbogsehbse@reddit

The second image is a reconnaissance platform if I’m not mistaken

[-]

giblets46@reddit

Is it me or the crank in the leading edge asymmetric?!

[-]

F6Collections@reddit

…..you think speed of a 4th generation jet somehow makes it equal to an actual stealth 5th generation fighter?

can already tell this isn’t a discussion worth having.

[-]

GlueSniffingCat@reddit

It's even more cool when you realize the shape is pretty ideal for low earth orbit.

[-]

HumpyPocock@reddit

Hold on — which one are you saying is the right shape for spelunking in Low Earth Orbit?

[-]

GlueSniffingCat@reddit

Both have the wingspan for some low earth orbit at least below 450km but the GJ-X UCAV has a lot of features that true orbit craft carry like the angular bit toward the nose. You see the same thing in other low earth orbit craft like virgin galactic, dream chaser, the hello 2, the space shuttle.

[-]