China’s mysterious stealth drone takes flight, sparks bomber rumors

China has recently conducted the first flight of a large stealth drone, unofficially called the GJ-X, which has sparked speculation about its role as a potential next-generation bomber. The drone, with a wingspan of approximately 138 feet (42 meters), is comparable in size and design to the U.S. Air Force’s B-21 Raider stealth bomber. Featuring a cranked-kite flying-wing shape and split rudders similar to those on American stealth bombers, the GJ-X represents a significant advancement in China’s unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) capabilities. Analysts suggest it could either be a large unmanned combat air vehicle for kinetic missions or a stealth bomber prototype intended to complement China’s manned bomber fleet. The drone was first spotted over Malan Airbase in Xinjiang and has been described by Chinese military commentators as a “medium-range strategic bomber,” potentially filling a capability gap before the anticipated debut of China’s manned H-20 stealth bomber, which may not enter service