New images of Chinese ‘loyal wingman’ drones, or their mockups, have surfaced ahead of their official reveal at a significant military parade in Beijing. These uncrewed aircraft are part of a broader showcase of new capabilities, some aspirational, others operational.
At least five distinct loyal wingman drones, also known as Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) by the U.S. Air Force, are expected to appear at the parade, based on earlier satellite imagery of preparations. Some designs may be advanced uncrewed combat air vehicles (UCAVs) with enhanced autonomy but still capable of collaborative operations. The GJ-11 Sharp Sword, a key Chinese stealthy flying-wing UCAV, and lower-tier medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) drones will also feature.
One drone resembles the FH-97, which draws inspiration from the U.S.-made XQ-58A Valkyrie by Kratos. This design, seen during parade preparations, shares features like angular vertical stabilizers with the FH-97, first displayed at the 2021 Zhuhai Airshow. However, other drones in the lineup do not closely match known Chinese designs.
A newly emerged image shows a drone with a conventional wing and tail layout, featuring a top-mounted air intake. Its vertical stabilizers closely align with the FH-97 and XQ-58A. Comparisons have been made to General Atomics’ YFQ-42A, under development for the U.S. Air Force’s CCA program, though its trapezoidal stabilizers differ.
The FH-97’s developer, Aerospace Times Feihong Technology Corporation, a subsidiary of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC), introduced the FH-97A in 2022, resembling Boeing’s MQ-28 Ghost Bat. The drone seen now might be a further evolution of the FH-97 series.
Two additional drone designs, both tailless with modified delta wings, have also appeared. One has a slender nose and wider body, while the other features a broader nose and center section. Both are larger than the FH-97-like drone, suggesting higher performance. One of these designs may match an airframe or mockup spotted earlier in 2025 at Shenyang’s plant, as previously reported.
Two other tailless drones with diamond-like delta and cranked-kite wings, seen in prior satellite imagery, remain less clear.
China’s pursuit of multiple CCA and UCAV designs is evident, targeting land-based operations, aircraft carriers, and amphibious warfare ships. The two-seat J-20S stealth fighter is often shown as a drone controller, with the KJ-500 airborne early warning aircraft and H-6 missile carrier potentially supporting tactical drone operations.
China has solidified its role as a global leader in advanced uncrewed aviation. A large, low-observable, flying-wing, high-altitude, long-endurance drone was spotted earlier in 2025 at a secretive test base in Xinjiang.
The September 3 parade, marking the 80th anniversary of China’s victory over Japan in World War II, will showcase “new-type combat capabilities.” This includes a vertical takeoff and landing drone, possibly with a twin intermeshing rotor design, a rare configuration seen in Kaman’s K-MAX and CQ-24 drones.
New missile designs, including the YJ-17 (waverider hypersonic), YJ-19 (possible scramjet), and YJ-20 (biconical hypersonic), will debut. A potential new intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) or large ballistic-like weapon, along with ground-launched missiles, will also be unveiled.
Uncrewed underwater vehicles (UUVs) and uncrewed surface vessels (USVs) with torpedo-like shapes will be displayed. New crewed and uncrewed armored vehicles, some with augmented reality headsets, and ground-based air and missile defense systems, including directed energy weapons, will also feature.
Not all systems may be operational; some could be mockups, though past Chinese parades have previewed designs that later became operational, like the GJ-11 in 2019. The Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) is modernizing across domains, focusing on regional priorities like Taiwan and the South China Sea, while expanding global power projection and nuclear deterrence capabilities.
The parade will signal China’s advancements in CCA/UCAV drones and other cutting-edge technologies to a global audience.
