The Chinese Air Force marked its 76th anniversary with the public release of a striking short film titled “Far-Reaching Dreams.” For the first time, footage showed the GJ-11 “Xuanlong” (Dark Dragon) stealth unmanned combat aerial vehicle flying in formation with a J-20 “Weilong” (Mighty Dragon) stealth fighter and a J-16D electronic warfare aircraft — a historic first display of coordinated flight among the trio.
The video begins with the GJ-11 taxiing out of its hangar, taking off, and joining the two crewed aircraft in formation. The sequence highlights China’s advancing manned–unmanned teaming capabilities and the growing operational integration of stealth and electronic warfare assets. Additional clips depict a J-20 launching an air-to-air missile while an HQ-20 surface-to-air missile fires from a ground platform, symbolizing a networked defense architecture linking air and missile forces.
The GJ-11’s flying-wing design minimizes radar signature and infrared visibility, allowing deep-strike or reconnaissance missions in heavily defended environments. Measuring roughly 14 meters in wingspan and 12 meters in length, it is believed to carry four to six small precision munitions or electronic payloads internally. The drone’s estimated combat radius exceeds 1,200 kilometers, supporting long-range operations and autonomous mission execution through encrypted datalinks.
Flight test patterns over recent years indicate growing proficiency in formation flight, data-link synchronization, and mission autonomy with J-20 and J-16D aircraft. Analysts assess that the GJ-11 is nearing an operational readiness stage following extended testing at multiple airbases.
The anniversary video also introduced China’s AI-driven digital training ecosystem, linking real aircraft, simulators, and virtual “digital forces.” This network enables mixed-reality combat scenarios where AI algorithms evolve tactics dynamically, enhancing coordination between crewed and uncrewed systems while reducing training costs and risks.
Experts also note increasing signs of a carrier-capable variant of the GJ-11. Modifications such as folding wings, reinforced landing gear, and corrosion-resistant materials could enable deployment aboard Fujian-class carriers, extending maritime strike and reconnaissance range far beyond fleet perimeters.
The GJ-11 “Dark Dragon’s” first public appearance alongside the J-20 and J-16D marks a significant milestone in China’s integration of stealth, electronic warfare, and AI-enabled combat systems, underscoring the nation’s shift toward fully networked, multi-domain air operations.
