Inside the Airborne Unmanned Combat Formation of China’s 93rd Parade

The 93rd anniversary parade in Beijing highlighted a range of new PLA equipment, notably an expanded "unmanned combat group" that underscores the force’s shift toward information‑centric and intelligent operations.

Attack‑11 UAV

First appearing in the 2019 parade, the Attack‑11 is a tailless flying‑wing UAV that prioritises stealth. It is powered by a jet engine capable of supersonic cruise, giving it higher survivability against enemy air‑defence networks. The platform can act both as a strike node carrying weapons and as a sensor node providing long‑range reconnaissance for battle‑field decision‑making.

Attack‑2 UAV

Derived from the Wing‑Loong‑2 platform, the Attack‑2 uses a conventional straight‑wing layout and a turboprop‑9A engine, offering long endurance, large payload capacity and a substantial combat radius. Although it lacks the stealth of Attack‑11, it can sustain continuous surveillance and can be equipped with satellite‑guided bombs, air‑to‑ground missiles, reconnaissance pods, or electronic‑warfare pods, making it a versatile asset in system‑of‑systems warfare.

In the civilian sector, the Wing‑Loong‑2 family has repeatedly supported disaster‑area communications, terrain assessment and rescue command, helping to resolve the "three‑break" communication problem in affected regions.

New Unmanned Wingmen

The parade introduced two "loyal wingman" UAVs, mirroring the Western concept of collaborative combat aircraft (CCA). Both feature a lambda‑wing layout that emphasises stealth, with forward‑placed air intakes that maintain stable airflow during high‑G manoeuvres. These wingmen are intended to escort fifth‑ or sixth‑generation manned fighters, providing protection and augmenting combat capability.

Compared with recent U.S. CCA projects (YFQ42A and YFQ44A), China’s wingmen are already fielded, indicating a lead in this domain.

Unmanned Air‑Superiority Aircraft

Two newly displayed air‑superiority UAVs represent a world‑first. Both adopt twin‑side intakes, a tailless configuration and the same WS‑10 series engine used on the J‑10C, but differ in intake design (DSI vs. Gallate) and wing‑tip morphology. They stress all‑directional stealth, supersonic performance and high manoeuvrability. One variant includes an internal weapons bay, allowing carriage of medium‑range air‑to‑air missiles while preserving a low radar cross‑section.

Advantages of Unmanned Air Combat

Removing the pilot eliminates physiological limits, enabling extreme G‑loads and manoeuvres. Given the rapid dynamics of air combat, operators cannot control UAVs in real time; therefore, these platforms likely integrate AI to achieve a degree of autonomous air‑to‑air engagement, acting either as wingmen or independent combatants, fundamentally reshaping future air‑warfare.

Ship‑borne Unmanned Helicopter

The final showcase was a ship‑borne unmanned helicopter that has operated alongside the Type‑075 amphibious assault ship. Equipped with diverse sensors, it can perform airborne early‑warning, reconnaissance, anti‑submarine warfare, and search‑and‑rescue missions, and can also conduct strike or transport tasks. Without a crew, its endurance and range surpass those of manned helicopters, allowing deployment from destroyers and other surface vessels as a node in fleet‑wide operations.

Conclusion

The diverse UAVs displayed at the 93rd parade embody the PLA’s rapid transformation toward an information‑dominant, AI‑enhanced force. From persistent surveillance and command‑control to precision strike, these platforms are set to overhaul traditional combat doctrines and reshape the future battlefield, strengthening China’s ability to safeguard national sovereignty and strategic interests.