International media has just released the first video that is said to record the image of a large unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) " quick-wheeling", with the unofficial name of China's GJ-X, flying in a test flight.
Information about the existence of this UAV model has appeared since September, after the media discovered it in satellite images at a large-scale testing base near Malan, Xinjiang Province.
According to experts, the GJ-X has a wingspan of about 42m, classified as a rare group among stealth UAVs. There are rumors that the size of the GJ-X is superior to the size of the stealth American B-21.
This is considered a giant stealth UAV model, but not the largest in China.
A recent short video shows a plane with a similar design or the GJ-X in flight. It is also possible that this is another model with the same deer design, because China is currently developing at least another UAV with a similar design, possibly even the same technology.
The recorded image shows that the GJ-X has a Split rudders flap, a design typical of flights such as the B-2. There is a small white part on the rear of the plane, which could be the top of the sink engine discharge system, suggesting a 2-motor design.
The most notable detail in the video is the disguised paint layer on the aircraft's under surface, with dark tones to fade the real shape when viewed from below.
This type of constrictive disguise paint helps reduce the likelihood of being detected at high altitudes, while also deceiving the determination of flight direction - a technique that has been used for decades on military aircraft.
Regarding the purpose of use, there are currently many theories.
Some Chinese military experts believe that this is a combat unmanned aerial vehicle (UCAV) focusing on attack missions, while others believe that it could be an unmanned aerial vehicle.
A more highly appreciated possibility is the high-altitude reconnaissance version with long flight times, similar to the RQ-180 stealth UAV that the US is rumored to own. It is not excluded that GJ-X can take on multiple missions, from attack to reconnaissance, providing a great strategic advantage.
The GJ-X is just one of a series of new stealth aircraft development projects in China over the past year, including the heavy J-36 fighter and the tailless J-XDS, which are all noted for their first test flights. A series of new-generation tactical UAVs have also appeared.
The speed that China is achieving in the field of developing advanced stealth fighter jets is considered "arresting". Experts note that this is only the public part, when many other programs are being conducted in secret.
