The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) is expected to unveil a cutting-edge stealth attack drone during the Victory Day parade in Beijing this September, according to rehearsal images that have surfaced online.
The drone, known as the FH-97, is characterized as a single-engine, ground-attack uncrewed aircraft and is considered to be China’s first combat-ready stealth drone. The FH-97’s design enables it to participate in coordinated aerial operations alongside manned fighter jets.
Recently leaked images depict the FH-97 participating in the military parade rehearsals, which took place from the evening of Saturday into Sunday morning, near Tiananmen Square. This event marks the 80th anniversary of Japan’s surrender and the conclusion of World War II.
If officially unveiled at the parade, the FH-97 would position China as the first nation with a fully operational drone of this type, referred to as a “loyal wingman” for integrated crewed-uncrewed combat scenarios. Approximately 40,000 personnel participated in the parade’s second full rehearsal.
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While the drone was obscured on a military truck, the visible features strongly indicate that it is indeed the FH-97, also known as the Feihong-97, developed by a subsidiary of the state-owned China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (AVIC).
