GJ-11 Sharp Sword

The GJ-11 Sharp Sword is a low-observable unmanned combat aircraft developed in China and built around a tailless flying-wing design. Known in Chinese as Gongji-11, the platform was designed to perform reconnaissance and precision- strike missions while complementing crewed aircraft.

Its tailless flying-wing airframe, integrated exhaust and radar-signature-reduction features are intended to make the GJ-11 more difficult to detect in high-threat airspace. An internal weapons bay allows munitions to be carried inside the airframe while helping preserve the aircraft’s low-observable characteristics.

The GJ-11’s mission concept includes deep reconnaissance, target acquisition, precision strike and operations against hostile air-defence systems. Open-source reporting has associated the platform with autonomous mission management, advanced data links and future manned-unmanned teaming scenarios. However, important details concerning its sensors, range and operational employment have not been independently confirmed in public sources.

According to the Plarok database, the GJ-11 has a maximum speed of 490 knots, a service ceiling of 40,000 feet and an approximate payload capacity of 1,500 kilograms. The first prototype flight took place on 21 November 2013, making the aircraft an important step in China’s development of low-observable UCAVs and future manned-unmanned teaming capabilities.