The maiden flight of China's new stealth drone has caused a stir. Has the Dragon developed a pilotless bomber? US-India tensions escalate

China has unveiled its new stealth drone to the world. It's believed to be China's next-generation bomber. The sighting comes after several new drones were unveiled during a Beijing military parade.

Beijing: China has once again captured the world's attention with its new modern weapon. China's new combat flying-wing drone has been spotted flying for the first time. It is believed to be a next-generation pilotless bomber. Videos of this large, stealthy, cranked-kite drone are circulating on Chinese social media. It is informally called the GJ-X. It has also attracted attention from the United States, as it poses a challenge to American bombers in its class. It could also be a cause for concern for India.

According to a report in The War Zone, the aircraft is a bomber or a similar design. A similar weapon was captured in satellite imagery taken at China's Malan Airbase in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region in August. The aircraft at Malan Base has a wingspan of 42 meters (138 feet), placing it in the rare category of unmanned stealth aircraft.

Shaped like an American bomber

China's new weapon is about the same size as the Northrop Grumman B-21 Raider, an American stealth strategic bomber. Its wingspan is 40-42 meters. Currently under development, the B-21 is expected to be capable of carrying both conventional and nuclear payloads. Together with the B-52, it will form the backbone of the future US bomber force.

The purpose of the new Chinese drone is not yet clear. According to reports, some military observers said it was a large, operational-focused unmanned combat aircraft. Others are calling it an unmanned stealth bomber. Chen Xi, a Chinese military observer and commentator for Shenzhen TV, said the drone spotted at the Malan base was a medium-range strategic bomber.

What the expert said

Chen said the next-generation H-20 bomber hasn't been released yet, but we now have a strategic-level medium-range bomber similar in size to the B-21. In 2016, China announced the development of a new long-range bomber. It was later named the H-20 stealth bomber.

The War Zone report said the aircraft seen in the photos from the Malan base had split rudders similar to those of the American B-2 stealth bomber. A small, off-center bulge was seen on the jet's tail, suggesting it was a twin-engine design. This new model is one of several new unmanned aircraft being tested by China.

What is the specialty

The GJ-X's design bears a striking resemblance to a drone called the CH-7 or Caihong-7, which was showcased at China's Zhuhai Air Show in November last year. According to a Xinhua report in May, the CH-7 drone has a wingspan of 27.3 meters, a maximum take-off weight of 8 tons, and a cruise speed of Mach 0.5, making it a high-speed reconnaissance aircraft.

PC:NBT