Air system · Stealth
GJ-11 Sharp Sword
Stealth UCAV
Also known as: Sharp Sword / Lijian / GJ-11
GJ-11 Sharp Sword overview
The GJ-11 Sharp Sword, also called Lijian in reporting, is a Chinese tailless flying-wing unmanned combat-aircraft design associated with AVIC and the Shenyang Aircraft Corporation. A Sharp Sword demonstrator was publicly reported to have made its first flight in 2013, and a refined-looking aircraft identified as GJ-11 was displayed at China's 2019 National Day parade. The public record establishes a continuing Chinese stealth-UCAV effort, but does not provide a complete official technical or force-structure description.
Its flying-wing planform and enclosed engine installation are consistent with a low-observable design. Analysts have assessed possible turbofan, internal-bay and precision-strike characteristics from imagery, but China has not released a complete authoritative specification sheet. Payload, radius, sensor fit and weapons integration should therefore be described as estimates or possibilities, not as fixed GJ-11 specifications.
Open-source imagery and defense reporting have continued to examine possible GJ-11 test activity and basing. The U.S. Department of Defense has also publicly discussed China's interest in penetrating unmanned aircraft and the PLA's broader airpower modernization. Neither that broad assessment nor imagery of an airframe proves low-rate initial production, an operational regiment, a particular exercise role, hardened operational basing or a combat-ready fleet.
Through 2026, the defensible recent update is continued public interest and reported testing of a GJ-11-associated design. China has not publicly confirmed the often-used GJ-11B label, a fleet count, a combat-readiness date, or a 4,000–5,000-kilometer radius. Those claims remain open-source assessments and are not presented here as established facts.
Armament
Precision guided bombs (internal bay)
Development and operational timeline
- Chinese state and aviation reporting publicize the Sharp Sword demonstrator's first flight
- A refined aircraft identified in reporting as GJ-11 appears at China's 70th anniversary parade
- Open-source imagery is reported as showing a changed flying-wing configuration; its designation and status are not officially detailed
- Defense assessments discuss China's interest in penetrating unmanned strike aircraft; they do not establish GJ-11 fleet size
- Analysts report possible GJ-11-related test activity; no authoritative Chinese low-rate-production announcement is public
- Additional imagery is interpreted by analysts as showing more than one related airframe; imagery cannot by itself establish operational deployment
- Defense reporting discusses possible PLA testing of stealth unmanned aircraft; a GJ-11 exercise role is not officially confirmed
- Public assessments continue to associate GJ-11 with penetrating-strike concepts; GJ-11B remains an unconfirmed analyst label
- Satellite analysts debate whether shelters and flying-wing imagery indicate GJ-11 activity; no official basing confirmation is public
- Open-source estimates continue to differ on GJ-11 maturity and fleet size; no combat-ready total is established
- Further imagery-based reporting discusses possible GJ-11-related basing and configuration changes; China does not confirm the interpretation
- Public reporting supports continued development or testing, but no authoritative fleet size, GJ-11B confirmation or combat-use statement is available