Key Points and Summary – New Planet Labs imagery captured August 14 shows a massive flying-wing drone on the runway at China’s Malan test base in Xinjiang.
-Analysts say the aircraft appears to be a new CH-7 variant with a “cranked-kite” planform, measuring roughly 137 feet across.
CH-7 Drone from China. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
-A broad nose, single forward intake, and rear exhaust suggest a high-altitude, long-endurance design suited for ISR and potentially UCAV roles.
-Its daylight exposure—without obvious camouflage—echoes Beijing’s growing willingness to showcase advanced systems.
-The silhouette invites comparisons to America’s secretive RQ-180, though trailing-edge and wingtip details differ. It’s another data point in China’s accelerating stealth-drone push.
We Just Saw China’s Newest Stealth Drone
New satellite imagery has revealed a curious new addition to China’s growing arsenal of stealth aircraft – a massive flying-wing drone positioned on the runway of the Malan test base in Xinjiang.
The image, captured by Planet Labs on August 14 and later added to its archives, shows what analysts believe to be a new variant of the CH-7, China’s high-altitude, long-endurance stealth drone.
The War Zone (TWZ), which obtained and analyzed the image earlier this week, noted that “what looks to be a previously unseen low-observable flying-wing drone variant with a ‘cranked kite’ planform has emerged in a satellite image from China’s secretive test base near Malan in the country’s far western Xinjiang province.”
The aircraft’s wingspan measures roughly 137 feet, placing it between the size of the previously disclosed CH-7 and an even larger flying-wing drone first seen at Malan in May.
The aircraft features a wide forward nose, a single front air intake, and an exhaust at the rear, suggesting it could have been designed for high-altitude endurance missions.
CH-7 Drone from China. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
The silhouette of the new drone has drawn comparisons to past American stealth programs, too. As noted by TWZ, the drone shares some visual similarities to unofficial renderings of the U.S. Air Force’s secretive RQ-180 – a classified, long-endurance, high-altitude stealth drone design currently in development by Northrop Grumman.
Subtle differences in its trailing edge, wingtip geometry, and sweep all differentiate this new aircraft from earlier iterations, however.
Oddly, the drone was seen in broad daylight – and there is little evidence that any effort was made to camouflage the drone or conceal it from known satellite passes.
It is just the latest in a string of examples of Beijing taking a less cautious approach with new advanced aircraft.
Between documentaries aired on CCTV revealing brand new designs and satellite images repeatedly revealing new tech, it looks as though Beijing is becoming increasingly comfortable allowing glimpses of its latest military hardware breakthroughs – and likely more confident in its ability to compete with the West.
China’s pursuit of stealth drones is accelerating – and the world got its first official look at the “Type B” attack drone unveiled during the September 3 Victory Day parade.
What’s known about the CH-7 so far is impressive, too.
Reports suggest that the platform is suited to intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, but has clear potential as an uncrewed combat air vehicle (UCAV).
🦇👀
Large ‘Cranked Kite’ Flying Wing Drone Appears At Chinese Test BaseIt’s the second largest Chinese flying wing drone (evolved CH-7?) we have seen and follows a larger trend in the country’s stealthy uncrewed aircraft developments.
Story: https://t.co/i1oboSFvWx
— The War Zone (@thewarzonewire) September 18, 2025
New Planet Labs imagery captured August 14 shows a massive flying-wing drone on the runway at China’s Malan test base in Xinjiang. Analysts say the aircraft appears to be a new CH-7 variant with a “cranked-kite” planform, measuring roughly 137 feet across.
A broad nose, single forward intake, and rear exhaust suggest a high-altitude, long-endurance design suited for ISR and potentially UCAV roles. Its daylight exposure—without obvious camouflage—echoes Beijing’s growing willingness to showcase advanced systems.
The silhouette invites comparisons to America’s secretive RQ-180, though trailing-edge and wingtip details differ. It’s another data point in China’s accelerating stealth-drone push.
Accompanying the new drone designs are new stealth aircraft, fighters, aircraft carriers, and more – all designed, manufactured, and rushed into service as part of a broad mission to rival or surpass American equivalents.
About the Author:
Jack Buckby is a British author, counter-extremism researcher, and journalist based in New York who writes frequently for National Security Journal. Reporting on the U.K., Europe, and the U.S., he works to analyze and understand left-wing and right-wing radicalization, and reports on Western governments’ approaches to the pressing issues of today. His books and research papers explore these themes and propose pragmatic solutions to our increasingly polarized society. His latest book is The Truth Teller: RFK Jr. and the Case for a Post-Partisan Presidency.
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