China's secret weapon unveiled: Mystery drone sparks debate

China is constantly expanding its arsenal. In recent months, photos of the modern Chinese Z-21 attack helicopter considered the counterpart of the American AH-64 Apache, have been circulating online. According to reports from military industry analysts, Beijing is also developing the modern H-20 strategic bomber, which is supposed to be difficult to detect.

Amid the numerous ongoing projects, another mysterious object has emerged. It was recorded in footage on the Chinese social media platform Weibo. The footage shows a flying object with a distinctive flying wing shape, which is difficult to identify due to its lack of resemblance to any current Chinese planes or drones.

However, Defence Blog notes that analysts believe the footage features the CS-5000T, a model previously unknown to the public that demonstrates the technology of the Chinese arms industry. The CS-5000T is expected to be a conceptual project of a future stealth combat drone.

The problem with observing the Chinese aerial vehicle is that nothing specific is known about the mentioned unmanned aerial vehicle today. From the footage, it can be inferred that the drone is built with a flying wing design, meaning it lacks a tail and a distinct fuselage. This design helps reduce air resistance during flight, increasing maximum speed and making it more difficult for the object to be detected by the opponent's observation instruments. The lack of a tail also means the drone has a smaller surface area, making it even harder to detect.

"If it is confirmed that the CS-5000T will be a stealth combat drone, it could represent a step forward in the design of unmanned aerial vehicles, changing the market for such devices," according to Defence Blog. The Chinese have not yet commented on the observation of the mysterious drone and have not disclosed details about the equipment's development. Its implementation into service also remains unknown.