--- title: "China’s Stealth Sharp Sword Unmanned Combat Air Vehicles Deployed To Operational Airbase" description: "The appearance of GJ-11 Sharp Sword drones at a base in Western China points to the type getting closer to an operational state." date: "2025-10-10" modified: "2025-10-10" authors: - name: "Joseph Trevithick" job_title: "Deputy Editor" link: "https://www.twz.com/authors/joseph-trevithick.md" url: "https://www.twz.com/air/chinas-stealth-sharp-sword-unmanned-combat-air-vehicles-deployed-to-operational-airbase" categories: - "Air" - "Around The Globe" - "China" - "Drones" - "Indo-Pacific" - "News & Features" - "Satellite Imagery" - "UCAVs" - "Unmanned" --- # China’s Stealth Sharp Sword Unmanned Combat Air Vehicles Deployed To Operational Airbase ![]() *PHOTO © 2025 PLANET LABS INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. REPRINTED BY PERMISSION* Satellite imagery shows several [GJ-11 Sharp Sword]() stealthy flying-wing uncrewed combat air vehicles (UCAV) were deployed to a very active dual-use military-civilian airport in western China for weeks between August and September. This would be in line with 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 heavy investment]() in [flying-wing uncrewed aircraft](), which stands in ever more stark contrast to [the U.S. military's eschewing of such designs](), at [least publicly](). Imagery in Planet Labs' online archive database shows three GJ-11s at Shigatse Air Base, also known as Shigatse Peace Airport, in China's Tibet Autonomous Region, from August 6 through September 5. The Sharp Sword has been in development for more than a decade and is understood to [be designed to at least perform]() penetrating air-to-surface strike and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions. It also has the potential for use in air-to-air combat as an electronic warfare platform. ![]() *A trio of GJ-11s, as well as other drones, seen at Shigatse Air Base in a satellite image taken on August 6, 2025. *PHOTO © 2025 PLANET LABS INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. REPRINTED BY PERMISSION** ![]() *This satellite image taken on September 5, 2025, shows two GJ-11s, as well as other drones, at Shigatse. PHOTO © 2025 PLANET LABS INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. REPRINTED BY PERMISSION* ![]() *A GJ-11 mockup that was included in a massive Chinese military parade in Beijing on September 3, 2025. *Chinese internet** At least two of the drones seen in the images of Shigatse have overall gray paint schemes, as is commonly seen on other Chinese crewed and uncrewed military aircraft. At least one additional example is seen with a red/brown colored protective covering of some kind. A Planet Labs image of Shigatse taken on September 10, seen below, shows Flanker-type fighters with similar covers. ![]() **PHOTO © 2025 PLANET LABS INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. REPRINTED BY PERMISSION** Though its location is remote, Shigatse occupies a strategic position along China's southwestern flank with India. It is situated just around 90 miles northeast of the boundary with India's Sikkim state, which is [one of a number of border areas]() between the two countries that have [seen sometimes violent skirmishes](). In the past five years or so, the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) has been steadily working to expand its ability to project airpower from multiple bases in the Tibet and Xinjiang Autonomous Regions, as you can read more about [here](). Shigatse's main runway [is one of the longest in the world](), stretching approximately 16,404 feet (5,000 meters) in length. An additional 9,840-foot (3,000-meter) auxiliary runway, with seven large aircraft parking spots attached to it, was also completed at the facility back in 2017. An expanded apron for military aircraft was also subsequently constructed at the eastern end of the base. Work to further enlarge that apron, and to build what looks to be at least five hangars and other supporting infrastructure adjacent to it, has been underway for around a year now. ![]() *A satellite image taken on September 10, 2025, of the eastern end of Shigatse Air Base, showing work to further expand the apron there, as well as construct what look to be new hangars and other supporting infrastructure. *PHOTO © 2025 PLANET LABS INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. REPRINTED BY PERMISSION** ![]() *A satellite image taken in 2019 offering a general view of Shigatse Air Base. The additional runway that was constructed in 2017 is seen at the western end of the facility. The subsequent work to expand the eastern end of the facility is also absent here. *Google Earth** In line with all this, Shigatse has a significant and active PLA presence. In terms of crewed aircraft, there is a continuous fighter presence at the base, which has included Flanker-type and [J-10s]() over the years. Satellite imagery shows that other fixed-wing military aircraft, including [airborne early warning and control planes](), as well as helicopters, operate from there, as well. https://twitter.com/thewarzonewire/status/1602752483650338816 Shigatse is also a very well-established hub for drone operations, with various types, including members of the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation's (CASC) [Rainbow family](), having been continuously based there for years now. Shigatse was notably the first known operating location for the high-flying [WZ-7 Soaring Dragon]() reconnaissance drone. WZ-7s, which also have a constant presence at the facility, are used to collect intelligence along the border with India. ![]() *WZ-7 Soaring Dragons, with their distinctive diamond wing configuration, as well as other drones are seen here at Shigatse on September 10, 2025. *PHOTO © 2025 PLANET LABS INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. REPRINTED BY PERMISSION** https://twitter.com/CSBiggers/status/1298879837554212864 https://twitter.com/benreuter_IMINT/status/1893599088882450763 The nature of the PLA's activity at Shigatse strongly points at least to the GJ-11s having been sent there for some type of operational testing. Prior to this, Sharp Swords had been primarily spotted at test facilities, such as the sprawling and secretive base at [Malan]() in Xinjiang province. The drones have been flying daily at Malan [for more than a year now](). Mockups have also been [spotted at Chinese naval]() test and [training facilities](), as well as at parades. ![]() *A pair of GJ-11s seen at Malan on July 18, 2024. *PHOTO © 2024 PLANET LABS INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. REPRINTED BY PERMISSION** ![]() *A pair of apparent GJ-11 mockups at a test and/or training site on Changxing Island in Shanghai in May 2024. *Google Earth** Flying from Shigatse would offer a real-world opportunity to explore and refine tactics, techniques, and procedures for employing the drones operationally, as well as just how they might fit into existing force structures. The base, which lies at an [elevation of nearly 12,410 feet (3,782 meters)](), also offers an especially high-altitude testing location, as well as one that is in proximity to an area of active tension with India and that country's air defense overlay. Having multiple Sharp Swords at the facility would also allow for demonstrations of their ability to [operate cooperatively](), as well as [alongside crewed platforms](), and potentially do so with [a high degree of autonomy](). China's J-20 stealth fighter is regularly presented as a likely aerial companion to the GJ-11. [*TWZ* has been highlighting for years]() how the [two-seat variant of the J-20]() would be especially well suited to the airborne drone controller role. https://twitter.com/HenriKenhmann/status/1580279637506228224 The GJ-11 has already been in development for more than a decade, with a prototype with a substantially less stealthy design [having first flown in 2013](). A mockup with a drastically refined low-observable (stealthy) configuration broke cover [at a parade in Beijing in 2019](). Continued work on Sharp Sword now also includes [a naval variant or derivative capable]() of operating from [aircraft carriers]() and [big deck amphibious assault ships](), which has been referred to unofficially at times as the GJ-11H, GJ-11J, or GJ-21. Just over a year ago, [*TWZ* reported in detail]() on clear evidence that the development of the GJ-11, overall, was accelerating, pointing to the drone getting increasingly closer to an operational state, at least in its land-based form. https://twitter.com/RupprechtDeino/status/1737149620097012039 https://twitter.com/louischeung_hk/status/1446158566633598983 As noted, the GJ-11 is just one example of the PLA's larger pursuit of multiple types of stealthy flying-wing drones for use as UCAVs and in other roles, especially high-altitude, long-endurance ISR missions. Three [previously unseen flying-wing designs]() have emerged in China just this year. This includes the appearance of two particularly large types at Malan, [which *TWZ* was first]() to [report on in both cases](). We had [assessed years ago]() that an explosion of investment in flying-wing drones in China [was likely to come](), and that [academic institutions]() tied to the country's weapons development ecosystem would play a key role. The Chinese aviation industry has also been surging ahead, in general, in the development of [new advanced crewed]() and [uncrewed designs](). ![]() **TWZ* was first to report on the sighting of this new very large flying wing design seen at China’s secretive test base near Malan in Xinjiang province in a satellite image taken on May 14, 2025. *PHOTO © 2025 PLANET LABS INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. REPRINTED BY PERMISSION** ![]() *What appears to be a previously unseen drone with a ‘cranked kite’ planform at China’s test base near Malan on August 14, 2025, which *TWZ* was also first to report on. *PHOTO © 2025 PLANET LABS INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. REPRINTED BY PERMISSION** Chinese flying-wing UCAV developments, in particular, reflect something of a trend globally, with [Russia](), [India](), [Turkey](), and [France]() also publicly pursuing this kind of capability to varying degrees. The U.S. military is pointedly absent from this space, [at least that we know](), despite decades of development work that looked for a time to be on [the cusp of yielding operational platforms]() before various programs were abandoned. You can read more about that history in extensive detail in [this past *TWZ* feature](). When it comes to China's GJ-11, the imagery of Shigatse from August and September offers new signs that these drones are getting close to at least a limited operational state, if they haven't already reached that milestone. *Contact the author: joe@twz.com* ## Author Joseph is *TWZ’s* Deputy Editor, helping to oversee the site’s highly experienced and dedicated team, while also writing informative and impactful defense and national security content. He lives right in the thick of it in the Washington, D.C. area. ### Author social links [Twitter]() [Bluesky]()