What Drones Does China Have? Wing Loong, GJ-11 and WZ-7
China fields one of the largest and most varied military drone fleets in the world, from Wing Loong and CH-series armed drones to the GJ-11 stealth combat drone, high-altitude WZ-7 and supersonic WZ-8 reconnaissance aircraft. It is also the world’s biggest exporter of armed drones, having sold Wing Loong and CH-4 aircraft to more than a dozen countries in the Middle East, Africa and Asia. At the September 2025 parade China showed a new generation of unmanned “loyal wingman” aircraft designed to fly alongside its fighters.
This guide covers China’s main military drones, what they do and why they matter.
What drones does China have?
Chinese military drones are built mainly by two state groups: the Aviation Industry Corporation of China, which makes the Wing Loong and GJ-11, and the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, which makes the Cai Hong, or CH, series. Smaller companies build loitering munitions and quadcopters, and China’s commercial drone industry, led by DJI, dominates the global market for small drones.
| Drone | Type | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| GJ-11 Sharp Sword | Stealth flying-wing combat drone | Strike and reconnaissance | In service; naval version for amphibious ships |
| WZ-7 Soaring Dragon | High-altitude long-endurance | Maritime and long-range surveillance | China’s answer to the Global Hawk |
| WZ-8 | Rocket-powered supersonic drone | Strategic reconnaissance | Launched from H-6 bombers |
| Wing Loong II / Wing Loong X | Medium-altitude long-endurance | Armed reconnaissance | Widely exported |
| CH-4 / CH-5 / CH-7 | Medium-altitude and stealth drones | Armed reconnaissance and strike | CH-7 is a stealth design |
| Jiutian | Large drone mothership | Releases swarms of small drones | First flew in 2025 |
| Loyal wingman drones | Collaborative combat aircraft | Fly with J-20 and other fighters | Several types shown at 2025 parade |
| Loitering munitions and FPV drones | Small expendable drones | Strike | Army and special forces |
GJ-11 and loyal wingman drones
The GJ-11 Sharp Sword is a stealth flying-wing drone, roughly comparable to the American X-47B, with internal weapons bays. It was first shown at the 2019 parade and has since been seen at air bases across China, and a naval version is expected to fly from the Type 076 amphibious ship. At the 2025 parade China showed several larger unmanned aircraft designed to fly alongside crewed fighters and take on the riskiest tasks, the same concept the US Air Force is pursuing with its collaborative combat aircraft. The two-seat J-20S is designed to control them, as described in our guide to Chinese fighter jets.
Reconnaissance drones: WZ-7 and WZ-8
The WZ-7 Soaring Dragon, with its distinctive joined wing, flies at high altitude for long periods to track ships and aircraft. It is regularly detected by Japan near its islands and by Taiwan. The WZ-8 is a rocket-powered drone launched from an H-6 bomber, which flies at supersonic speed and very high altitude before gliding back to land. Both are designed to find targets far out at sea, including aircraft carriers, for China’s long-range missiles.
China’s drone exports
Because the United States long restricted sales of armed drones, China filled the gap. Its Wing Loong and CH-4 drones have been bought by countries including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Iraq, Pakistan, Nigeria and Algeria, and they have been used in combat in Libya, Yemen and Ethiopia. They are cheaper than the American MQ-9 Reaper, though generally considered less capable and less reliable. Our ranking of the best combat drones compares them with Western and Turkish designs.
How does China compare?
China has more types of military drone than any country except the United States, and far greater capacity to mass-produce small ones. Its commercial industry produces most of the world’s small drones and their components, which gives it an enormous advantage in the kind of drone war seen in Ukraine. Britain’s much smaller fleet is covered in our guide to British drones.
Frequently asked questions
What drones does China have?
China’s main military drones include the GJ-11 stealth combat drone, the WZ-7 and WZ-8 reconnaissance drones, the Wing Loong and CH-series armed drones and new loyal wingman drones.
What is the GJ-11?
A Chinese stealth flying-wing combat drone with internal weapons bays, comparable to the American X-47B.
Does China export armed drones?
Yes. China is the world’s largest exporter of armed drones, selling Wing Loong and CH-4 aircraft to more than a dozen countries.
What is the Wing Loong?
A family of medium-altitude, long-endurance armed drones built by AVIC, similar in concept to the American MQ-9 Reaper.
Does China have drone swarms?
China has tested swarms of small drones and in 2025 flew the Jiutian, a large mothership designed to release them.
Is China ahead of the US in drones?
The United States has more experience with large drones, but China has a much larger industrial base for small drones and their components.
- Naval News – Chinese military parade details new naval missiles, drones (September 2025): navalnews.com
- US Department of Defense – Military and Security Developments Involving the People’s Republic of China 2025: media.defense.gov
- Breaking Defense – China’s parade shows off nuclear triad and new aircraft (September 2025): breakingdefense.com
