China Tests Unmanned Long-Range Stealth Fighter on Advanced Aircraft Carrier
Newly released footage indicates that China has taken a significant step forward in naval aviation by beginning carrier-based testing of an unmanned long-range stealth fighter, widely believed to be part of the GJ-11 series. The aircraft was observed on the lift of China’s newest aircraft carrier, Sichuan, before later appearing on its flight deck just hours ahead of the ship’s second round of sea trials.
While analysts caution that the aircraft spotted could be a full-scale mock-up used for deck handling and operational rehearsals rather than a fully functional airframe, its presence nonetheless underscores long-standing expectations that the Sichuan would play a central role in China’s push toward unmanned carrier aviation.
The Sichuan is a Type 076 class vessel and ranks among only three aircraft carriers worldwide equipped with an electromagnetic aircraft launch system (EMALS), a technology that allows for smoother launches and is especially well suited for both manned and unmanned aircraft. Since well before its launch in December 2024, the carrier has been widely viewed as a platform designed to operate unmanned fixed-wing aircraft, particularly flying-wing stealth designs such as the GJ-11.
China’s progress at sea mirrors developments on land. A land-based variant of the GJ-11 reportedly entered its first known operational deployment with the People’s Liberation Army Air Force in October 2025, suggesting that parallel efforts are underway to operationalize the aircraft across multiple domains.
Flying-wing aircraft like the GJ-11 are not optimized for extreme speed or high-G maneuvering. Instead, their strength lies in long-range endurance, high-altitude flight, and exceptional stealth characteristics. This design philosophy was pioneered decades ago by the U.S. B-2 Spirit bomber, which, despite its immense cost and operational challenges, demonstrated the strategic value of low-observable flying-wing platforms.
If deployed from aircraft carriers, GJ-11 squadrons could offer the People’s Liberation Army Navy a powerful new offensive capability. Launching from ships positioned far from contested coastlines, these unmanned stealth aircraft could conduct strikes from unpredictable directions, complicating enemy detection, interception, and defense planning. Their long range and reduced radar signature would significantly enhance China’s ability to project power across vast maritime spaces.
The GJ-11 is only one element of a broader Chinese effort to develop unmanned stealth combat aircraft. More advanced programs are reportedly underway, including highly maneuverable and autonomous designs such as the “Dark Sword” concept, signaling Beijing’s ambition to lead in next-generation aerial warfare.
At present, China’s carrier-based J-35 fifth-generation fighter remains the only stealth aircraft in the world designed to operate from an EMALS-equipped carrier. Alongside the U.S. Navy’s F-35B and F-35C, it is one of only a handful of stealth fighters globally capable of carrier operations. However, this exclusivity is expected to diminish as the Sichuan and its air wing move closer to full operational service.
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The Sichuan began its first sea trials on November 14, 2025. Displacing approximately 50,000 tons, it is larger than most aircraft carriers currently in service worldwide. The vessel represents a hybrid design, blurring the line between a traditional aircraft carrier and an amphibious assault ship, drawing elements from the lighter Type 075 class while introducing capabilities unmatched by any comparable ship globally. Analysts view it as a potentially transformative platform for Chinese naval aviation.
Historically, the United States Navy explored carrier-based stealth aircraft as early as the 1980s, but program cancellations, such as the A-12 Avenger II—and the abandonment of naval variants of the F-117 and F-22 delayed progress for decades. As a result, the F-35 remains the only stealth aircraft currently operated from Western carriers, and it is not expected to reach full high-intensity combat capability until the early 2030s.
China’s apparent move toward unmanned carrier-based stealth aircraft, combined with rapid advances in artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, and secure data links, is likely to reignite global interest in similar capabilities. As the Sichuan pioneers this new operational model, multiple carrier-operating nations may soon follow suit, potentially reshaping the future of naval air power.
