China showcases GJ-11 Dark Dragon at UMEX 2026 as UAE seeks wingman drone partners.

China presented a scale model of the GJ-11 unmanned combat aerial vehicle at UMEX 2026, coinciding with the UAE’s ongoing assessment of wingman-type drones for strike and support missions.

In January 2026, China presented a scale model of the GJ-11 unmanned combat aerial vehicle at UMEX 2026 in Abu Dhabi, as the UAE evaluates options for a loyal wingman drone with long-range strike capability. The display underscores broader global adoption of manned-unmanned teaming concepts for reconnaissance, electronic warfare, and precision strike roles.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link

In November 2025, the Chinese Air Force showed a GJ-11 flying in formation with a J-20 and a J-16D, with a controller-to-pilot exchange indicating that the coordination had been established. (Picture source: Army Recognition)

The GJ-11, also known as Sharp Sword and now renamed Dark Dragon, is an unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) developed in the People’s Republic of China for the People’s Liberation Army Air Force. The aircraft was designed by Shenyang Aircraft Design Institute and Hongdu Aviation Industry Group within a broader AVIC framework sometimes identified as AVIC 601-S, which encompassed several proposed models. The GJ-11 was unveiled in 2009, with ground testing beginning on December 13, 2012, followed by a 20-minute maiden flight on November 21, 2013 from a Hongdu airfield. This sequence placed China among a small group of states to achieve a successful UCAV first flight.

Early iterations of the GJ-11 featured a less refined rear section with an exposed engine nozzle, which was later replaced by a reshaped exhaust area to reduce signatures. A mockup of the refined configuration was publicly shown during China’s National Day parade in 2019, introducing the tailless flying-wing form to a wider audience. Further visibility followed in October 2021 at Airshow China, where the aircraft was associated with internal weapon bays and multi-role missions. A mockup was again displayed during the September 3, 2025 Victory Day parade, while operational testing continued at multiple locations through late 2025.

The airframe uses a tailless flying-wing layout with two internal weapon bays and serrated bay doors, with shaping around the exhaust intended to limit detectability. Dimensions cited for the GJ-11 include a length between 11.63 m and 12.2 m, a wingspan between 14.0 m and 14.4 m, and a height between 2.7 m and 3.1 m. Estimated weight figures include an empty weight of 6,350 kg and a maximum weight of 20,215 kg, with an internal payload capacity stated at up to 2,000 kg. Propulsion is provided by a single turbofan engine of unspecified type, and speed figures include a maximum of 1,111 km/h and a minimum of 333 km/h.

Sensor and electronic reconnaissance elements associated with the GJ-11 include infrared, radar, and electronic support functions grouped within multi-spectral targeting system families. Infrared surveillance camera entries list a maximum range of 55.6 km, while an ESM ELINT entry lists a maximum range of 926 km. Radar entries include an ISAR surface search radar with a maximum range of 185.2 km and an AESA fire-control radar for air-to-air and air-to-surface roles with a maximum range of 222.2 km. Armament examples associated with the aircraft include the FT-7 Flying Strides small-diameter guided weapon with a 135 kg HE penetrator and a land maximum of 92.6 km, and LS-6-500 series GPS or GPS/INS guided 500 kg HE weapons with land maxima of 55.6 km and 46.3 km.

The GJ-11's development expanded notably from 2024 onward, with multiple aircraft observed at Malan Air Base, a major hub for unmanned testing, and with manned-unmanned cooperation trials underway. In October 2022, computer-generated sequences showed three GJ-11 aircraft controlled by a two-seat variant of the J-20 fighter, indicating loyal wingman-type concepts. In November 2025, footage released for a PLA Air Force anniversary showed a GJ-11 flying in formation with a J-20 and a J-16D, with radio exchanges indicating coordination had been established. Late-2025 testing also continued at Shigatse Peace Airport, where three GJ-11 aircraft were present between August 6 and September 5, 2025.

The UMEX 2026 scale-model display therefore aligns with a long development arc that includes a naval dimension alongside land-based use. A shipborne variant has been referenced under designations such as GJ-11J and GJ-21, with development linked to large-deck amphibious assault ships and future carriers, including Type 076, and earlier claims of autonomous takeoff from Type 075 amphibious assault ships. Rather than introducing new specifications, the UMEX appearance reinforced the continuity of the configuration, mission set, and integration trajectory, positioning the GJ-11 as a mature flying-wing UCAV associated with strike, reconnaissance, electronic reconnaissance ranges, and cooperative operations with crewed aircraft.

Written by Jérôme Brahy

Jérôme Brahy is a defense analyst and documentalist at Army Recognition. He specializes in naval modernization, aviation, drones, armored vehicles, and artillery, with a focus on strategic developments in the United States, China, Ukraine, Russia, Türkiye, and Belgium. His analyses go beyond the facts, providing context, identifying key actors, and explaining why defense news matters on a global scale.