A new twin-jet engine flying-wing drone design has emerged in China. While details are currently limited, the Chinese aviation industry has been developing an expanding array of flying-wing uncrewed aircraft, including as uncrewed combat air vehicles (UCAV) and high-altitude intelligence-gathering platforms, often in cooperation with state-run research institutions. TWZ assessed years ago that there was likely to be an explosion of investment in flying-wing drones in China and that the academic side of the Chinese weapons development ecosystem would be deeply involved.

Pictures of the drone have been circulating online since at least yesterday. The images are said to have been taken recently in the city of Changchun in Jilin province in northeastern China amid preparations for the Changchun Air Show, which is scheduled to officially open this week. Local authorities say the show will also mark the first “full activation” of the Changchun International Aviation Expo City, a sprawling aviation-themed venue in Changchun that contains a theme park and other attractions.

From what we have seen so far of the drone, which is emblazoned on at least one side with the logo of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), it looks to be more of a developed test article, rather than a mock-up. It has a notable dorsal hump in the center of its body with air intakes nestled up against it on either side. A look at the uncrewed aircraft from the rear also shows two separate exhausts. The intakes and exhausts might point to engines buried in the upper hemisphere of the center body.

The uncrewed aircraft has some features that are broadly in line with a stealthy design, including a chine along the leading edge of the center body and shaping of the engine intakes. At the same time, the exhausts are inset into the body, but are hardly concealed. The rear view also shows rivets or other fasteners that are not fully flush, as well as various seams and protrusions along the body and wings, all of which would have negative impacts on its radar cross-section. If what is seen is a test article, various aspects of the design and its construction may not be indicative of the expected final configuration.

The core design, with two engines situated relatively high up on either side of the center of the body, would create more space to work with in the middle. That space could potentially be configured to hold various payloads, including more fuel, sensors, communications arrays, and/or even a weapons bay.

What roles and missions the design might be intended to perform, and whether it is meant to be more than an experimental aircraft, are currently unknown. CAS, through various institutions under its broad umbrella, does have an extensive history of developing uncrewed aerial and maritime systems, as well as sensors and other advanced technology, with clear potential military applications. State-run research institutions in China often have strong ties to the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), as well.

Local authorities are also billing the Changchun Air Show as a major showcase for the PLA Air Force (PLAAF).

Whatever the intended purpose of this new design from CAS might be, as noted, it does follow years now of very real development work on multiple flying-wing type drones in China. This includes the GJ-11 Sharp Sword, which looks increasingly set to be the PLA’s first operational UCAV. There are ever-growing signs that GJ-11 variants or derivatives are bound for future operation from the decks of aircraft carriers and big-deck amphibious assault ships.

Larger flying wing uncrewed aircraft designs that look more optimized to serve as high-altitude, long-endurance (HALE) intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) platforms have also emerged in China. Just in June, TWZ was first to report on the appearance of a new and especially large low-observable HALE flying-wing drone, which may have now flown.

Flying-wing type designs are also just one part of an ever-more diverse array of uncrewed aircraft in development in China, which has increasingly positioned itself as a global leader in this space. The PLA debuted several new air combat drone designs at a huge military parade in Beijing earlier this month.