Quantcast

China unveils new WZ-9 drone amid advancements in military aviation

Travelers are taking extreme measures and using hacks to avoid airline baggage fees
Pigeons Cause Chaos on Delta Flight
United Airlines’ Uniforms Get A Facelift—And A Political Filter
United Continues to Face Catering Chaos at San Francisco
Passenger Stows Away on Delta Flight from New York to Paris
Wizz Air becomes first airline to operate P&W-powered Airbus A321XLR jet
Hawaiian Airlines’ new ‘no show’ policy may make travel more expensive
BLIMP-SE OF THE FUTURE Luxury zeppelins of the future from ‘flying bum’ world’s largest aircraft to Google billionaire’s ‘impossible’ airship
Swiss Startup SmartFlyer Develops Hybrid-Electric Trainer
San Francisco-based entrepreneur takes a trip on India's worst-rated airline, his reaction will surprise you
First-Time Flyer at 81: A Grandmother's Memorable Journey
Ryanair forecasts fare rebound as consumers recover from interest-rate hit
Global Airlines Launches Inaugural Flight, Aiming to Revive 'Golden Age of Travel'
Winning routes: American Airlines adds more than 22,000 seats for football fans following release of 2025–2026 pro schedule
Boeing scores Middle East plane deal during Trump visit
Air travel will be ‘worse’ this summer, lawmakers warn — as FAA gives infuriating update on system fixes, staffing issues
Qatar Airways places record $96 billion Boeing order amid Trump visit
United Airlines CEO Reassures Passengers About Newark Airport Safety
American Testing Tech to Help Passengers Make Connecting Flights
British Airways to use AI in efforts to improve operations
American Airlines Tests New Tech to Help Passengers With Tight Connections During Summer Rush
Flight Diverted After Pregnant Woman on Board Goes into Labor and Delivers Her Baby: Report
United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby says "this is the most optimistic I've been in my entire career about finally getting the FAA fixed"
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy Unveils Plan to Build Brand New, State-of-the-Art Air Traffic Control System
Passenger rushing for next flight can't believe what woman next to her does
Why fuel price crash won’t make flying cheaper
Kristi Noem says travelers without Real ID will still be able to fly after deadline
Frontier Airlines Announces New Routes Launching This Summer, Connecting Baltimore With Chicago O’Hare and Trenton, N.J. With Myrtle Beach, S.C.
Airlines in North America prioritize investments in cyber, AI
The evolution of the airline uniform — a cross check
China unveils new WZ-9 drone amid advancements in military aviation
Policy
Webp 5r3vc2svdh8ibaxk8gr8iutw0za2
Simple Flying | Simple Flying

A video has surfaced online reportedly showing China's new military drone, the Wuzhen-9 or "Divine Eagle," in flight. This drone is believed to be an Airborne Early Warning aircraft and marks one of several end-of-year reveals by China, which also includes two advanced fighter jets. Among these, one could potentially be China's first sixth-generation fighter.

The WZ-9 drone's design is distinctive with a twin-boom structure and features a smaller wing at the front serving as a horizontal stabilizer, while the main wing and two vertical stabilizers are positioned at the rear. The single jet engine is mounted on top of the main wing.

"The sighting comes close on the heels of Beijing flying two new claimed sixth-generation aircraft – a regional stealth bomber and a smaller fighter jet. This also displays how the PLA is realizing its vision of a heavily 'mechanized' and automated military, as advocated in its successive defense white papers," according to The Aviationist.

Get the Newsletter
Sign-up to receive weekly round up of news from Sky Industry News
By submitting, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. By providing your phone number you are opting in and consenting to receive recurring SMS/MMS messages, including automated texts, to that number from our short code. Msg & data rates may apply. Reply HELP for help, STOP to end. SMS opt-in will not be sold, rented, or shared.

Reports suggest that this UAV is designed for early warning purposes to detect low-visibility targets such as stealth-equipped aircraft. One boom carries what appears to be a satellite communication antenna dish, with speculation that antennas might be present on both booms.

Questions remain about whether this was the first flight for the drone or if it was simply the first time it was filmed. Details about its sensors and autonomy level are not yet available.

China's advancements in military technology mark a significant shift from its past reliance on Soviet-designed equipment. Professor Justin Bronks from Rusi notes that China's Chengdu J-20 Mighty Dragon now surpasses Russia's Su-57 Felon in terms of advancement.

Recently, China has unveiled three new fighter jets: the J-35A variant for aircraft carriers, an experimental sixth-generation fighter jet with three engines, and another smaller fighter jet whose manned status remains unclear. Additionally, China is working towards producing its own jet engines, reducing dependence on Russian technology.

Organizations Included in this History
More News

In October 2022, Elon Musk acquired Twitter and rebranded it as X. Musk, who described himself as a "free speech absolutist," aimed to relax the platform's policies on hate speech and disinformation.

Jun 22, 2025

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requires the air traffic control (ATC) tower at Austin Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) to have 60 controllers.

Jun 22, 2025

The head of Airbus’ Canadian operations has projected that a stretched version of the A220, referred to as the A220-500, might commence commercial service in the early 2030s.

Jun 22, 2025

There are various announcements passengers dread when flying, including delays or cancellations.

Jun 22, 2025

The Boeing 777X, the latest aircraft from the US planemaker, is set to make its debut with the Boeing 777-9 next year.

Jun 22, 2025

United Airlines has announced an expansion of its flight capacity to Dublin Airport in 2026, marking a significant increase in its transatlantic offerings.

Jun 22, 2025