China turned heads this week when it rolled out a massive new drone during a military parade in Beijing, one that looks a lot like a stealth fighter but without a cockpit. The unmanned aircraft, shown alongside other cutting-edge systems, has stirred speculation about whether Beijing is preparing to field an entirely new class of combat drones, as reported by The War Zone.
The drone, informally referred to as Type B, carries a design that’s strikingly similar in size to a manned J-10 fighter. Its diamond-shaped wings, sharply angled fuselage, and serrated exhaust all point to stealth being a key priority. Observers noted its side-mounted inlets designed for supersonic flight and a chin-mounted sensor turret, the kind usually found on advanced fighters. Together, these features suggest it could take on missions that range from air-to-air combat to long-range surveillance or even precision strikes.
Parade viewers also caught sight of a smaller sibling, Type A. With slimmer lines and lambda-shaped wings, it’s clearly designed around the same philosophy of tailless, radar-evading shapes. Both drones bore serial numbers corresponding to units in the People’s Liberation Army Air Force, hinting that these aren’t just one-off concept models. Whether they are prototypes, mock-ups, or close to operational readiness is still up for debate, but their public appearance is a strong signal of intent.
For years, China has been steadily closing the gap with the U.S. in terms of advanced drone technology. Its military already operates the GJ-2 and WZ-8, among others, but those aircraft are either subsonic or designed for reconnaissance. Type B, however, suggests a leap into the realm of unmanned aircraft that could potentially engage in dogfights or spearhead strike missions without putting pilots at risk.
The timing of the reveal matters, too. Rolling it out during a parade packed with foreign dignitaries and cameras isn’t just about national pride – it’s also a message. China wants the world to know it’s not only catching up in stealth technology but may be preparing to shape the future of air combat with fighter-sized drones.
If Type B and its smaller counterpart make it into service, they could alter the balance of airpower in the region, introducing a new kind of threat that mixes the speed and stealth of modern jets with the expendability and endurance of unmanned platforms.
