At least five different Loyal Wingman drones, now commonly referred to as Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) by the US Air Force, were scheduled to participate in the upcoming parade in Beijing. Satellite images of the preparations, first discovered by TWZ, indicated this development. Some of these designs may represent more advanced unmanned combat air vehicles (UCAVs) with improved autonomy, yet are designed to operate in support roles. The GJ-11 Sharp Sword stealth flying-wing drone, which has been a hallmark of China’s UCAV projects, will participate in the event, along with the lower-tier Medium-Altitude Long-Endurance (MALE) platform.
New Drone Designs Expected at Beijing Parade
Two more new drone designs have been revealed in fresh images today, both featuring tailless layouts with modified delta wings. One airframe features a long, narrow nose that tapers into a very wide body, while the other—also pictured at the top of the story—has a wide front fuselage and midsection. Both designs are camouflaged, concealing engine configurations and other structural details. Given their size relative to transport trucks, these drones are significantly larger than FH-97-style aircraft. Their large size also indicates that they are likely designed for high-performance missions.
In addition to the CCA and UCAV platforms, this parade—which will be held on September 3 to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the nation’s victory over Japan in World War II—will highlight what officials call “new types of combat capabilities.”
Speaking of unmanned aviation, another exciting feature will be a vertical take-off and landing drone. Early glimpses suggest it may include a twin intermeshing rotor setup, a rare approach in helicopter design, whether manned or unmanned. In the United States, Kaman Corporation is known for pioneering this type of rotor system, particularly in its K-MAX helicopter series, which also produced two CQ-24 drone variants once used by the US Marine Corps in Afghanistan.
Read More : US Air Force Clears Rumors on AI Drone Simulation Attack
How Chinese Drones Could Change the Course of War
Let me tell you a story from World War II. In 1940, before the US and Soviet Union joined the war, Britain fought Germany and Italy alone. Although Britain faced much larger and better-armed forces, it achieved a stunning naval victory using a bold new technology. The Royal Navy sent an aircraft carrier, HMS Illustrious, to attack the Italian fleet in Taranto harbor. British aircraft disabled three Italian battleships and several other ships, and the Italian Navy was unable to intercept the attackers or mount an effective defense.
The world changed almost overnight. Air power revolutionized military affairs. In a single stroke, ironclad battleships became virtually obsolete from the top of the military value chain. Yet, the leaders who poured their nation’s coffers into battleship programs, including Churchill, proved slow to embrace change—even when their own innovations exposed the futility of old weapons.
Well, this is a parable from World War II that has a clear lesson: don’t ignore technological revolutions. Now, fast forward to 2025. We may have just witnessed something like a modern-day Taranto. For years, Russia fired cruise missiles at Ukraine from long-range strategic bombers—including those carrying nuclear weapons. Ukraine attacked those bombers on the ground with drones, but Russia pushed them back further, putting them out of reach of Ukrainian attacks.
This dynamic illustrates how much value a cheap, battery-powered Chinese drone can destroy by destroying an expensive piece of American equipment, whether in a conflict over Taiwan, the South China Sea, or simply on Xi Jinping’s orders. This destruction certainly kills the personnel who acquire the equipment, but the economic damage is far more serious: like Japan in World War II or Russia today, America’s defense production capacity is limited and it cannot quickly replace what it loses.
This prospect is terrifying. How can the US counter such attacks? Options include robust aircraft shelters and multi-layered air defense systems—guns, jammers, EMPs, lasers, drone swarms to intercept incoming aircraft—and strict surveillance of container traffic. Whatever security measures emerge, cheap, battery-powered drones have already transformed battlefields and turned large parts of the world into contested territory.
In contrast, the drones used in the Ukrainian attack belong to the “FPV” family—which means “first-person view.” People build these small, battery-powered plastic helicopters and attach explosives to them. There are many types, but a typical example is as follows:
An FPV drone typically consists of:
- Some injection-molded plastic parts
- Some low-cost computer chips (microcontrollers, sensors, etc.)
- An electric motor that uses rare-earth permanent magnets
- A lithium-ion battery
China’s Leadership-Driven Effort to Expand Military Drones
Statements by top Chinese leaders and official reports over the past five years reflect Beijing’s clear ambition to dominate the global military UAV sector. This reflects directives coming directly from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), led by General Secretary and Chairman of the Central Military Commission Xi Jinping. Shortly after urging the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) to “accelerate drone warfare research and training,” the National People’s Congress unveiled the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025). The document emphasized that “future warfare will be unmanned and intelligent,” and stressed that China must “continuously advance national defense and military construction” to meet these challenges.
The conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza, and the Houthi drone attacks in the Red Sea, have further increased China’s determination to design and test advanced drones and swarm systems. PLA experts, military scholars, and defense planners are studying how to redirect their forces toward cutting-edge technologies and deploy drones on land, sea, and air. PLA research institutes are closely monitoring US and international developments, particularly efforts to counter drone swarms with directed energy and high-power microwave weapons. Chinese teams are working on detection methods, electronic disruption, and hardening options to neutralize enemy unmanned systems. Chinese analysts emphasize that small, low-cost drones and swarms offer powerful asymmetric advantages that can counter larger, more sophisticated unmanned and manned platforms.
Debates continue over whether these new systems are truly combat-ready. The PLA still faces uncertainty in integrating unproven technologies into a modern military and in funding such systems on a large scale. However, it is clear that Chinese observers and military planners are carefully monitoring changes in force design and are taking steps now to prepare for future warfare. If these efforts are successful, and the US and its allies intervene to defend Taiwan in the event of a Chinese military operation, they may face a range of advanced PLA unmanned systems, from ISR and strike drones to autonomous swarm formations.
UAVs in China’s Military Modernization
Unmanned aerial systems (UAS), including unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) platforms, play a central role in China’s ongoing military modernization efforts. The PLA has been flying UAVs since the 1950s. Although aerial drones are not a completely new invention, today’s UAV technologies are rapidly advancing due to advances in artificial intelligence, machine learning, robotics, imaging sensors, energy storage, communication networks, materials science, and aeronautical engineering and design. Due to these improvements, current UAV platforms are becoming more capable, flexible, and autonomous than ever before.
Every service branch and theater command of the PLA now operates UAVs for a variety of missions. These missions include intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR); electronic intelligence (ELINT); coastal and border defense patrols; ground and naval attack missions; air-to-air engagements; anti-submarine operations; suppression of enemy air defenses, sometimes through small UAV “swarm” tactics; Information operations, including electronic warfare; secure communications; logistics and transportation; medical evacuation and emergency assistance; firefighting support; and psychological warfare. Furthermore, PLA exercises, training programs, and war-gaming scenarios indicate that UAVs will play multiple roles in any potential land or sea conflict involving the PRC.
Continue Reading: Game-Changer in the Skies: US Starts Building F-47, First Sixth-Gen Fighter to Fly by 2028
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