China unveils footage of GJ-11 “Fantasy Dragon” stealth drone flying with J-20 fighters PHOTO/VIDEO

China has released the first official footage of its GJ-11 “Fantasy Dragon” stealth combat drone flying in formation with J-20 stealth fighters and a J-16D electronic warfare aircraft, highlighting growing integration between crewed and uncrewed systems in the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF).

The air-to-air footage appeared at the end of a nearly 30-minute video issued by the PLAAF to mark the 76th anniversary of the Chinese armed forces. The release follows satellite imagery from October showing GJ-11 flying-wing uncrewed combat air vehicles (UCAVs) in at least a semi-operational state, Caliber.Az reports per TWZ.

WATCH: China has released new footage of its GJ-11 “Fantasy Dragon” stealth combat drone operating with J-20 fighters. pic.twitter.com/8XHGA1gDke

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The PLAAF confirmed that the GJ-11’s official name is Mysterious Dragon, also translated as Fantasy Dragon, replacing the earlier “Sharp Sword” designation used for prototype and pre-production models.

In the new footage, the GJ-11 is seen operating alongside a J-20 stealth fighter and a J-16D electronic attack aircraft. The sequence also includes what appears to be the first public video of a J-20 launching a medium-range air-to-air missile, likely a PL-15, from its internal weapons bay.

Analysts say the joint flight underscores China’s progress toward networked operations combining stealth, strike, and electronic warfare capabilities. The GJ-11’s design suggests potential roles in deep strike, reconnaissance, and decoy missions, while the J-16D’s jamming and radar-detection systems could protect stealth aircraft such as the J-20.

The combination of these aircraft points to the possible development of coordinated “manned-unmanned” strike packages, where crewed fighters control or direct multiple drones through encrypted data links. Such formations could enhance China’s ability to penetrate advanced air defense networks and sustain operations in highly contested environments.

While the footage alone does not confirm that the GJ-11 has entered full operational service, analysts view it as a strong indication that China is nearing that milestone.

By Sabina Mammadli