Alerts Sign-up
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.
