China’s FH-97 ‘Loyal Wingman’ Stealth Drone Poised for Imminent Debut at Beijing Parade
China’s FH-97 ‘Loyal Wingman’ Stealth Drone Poised for Imminent Debut at Beijing Parade
Leaked rehearsal images suggest the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) is set to unveil an advanced stealth attack drone, the FH-97, during Beijing’s upcoming Victory Day parade on September 3. This potential debut could mark China as the first nation to possess a combat-ready ‘loyal wingman’ drone, capable of autonomous coordination with crewed aircraft in aerial warfare.
Photos circulating online over the past weekend reportedly show the single-engine, ground-attack uncrewed aircraft participating in rehearsals for the massive military parade, which commemorates the 80th anniversary of Japan’s surrender and the end of World War II. The second full rehearsal, involving approximately 40,000 personnel, took place from Saturday evening into Sunday morning near Tiananmen Square.
Despite the aircraft being covered and mounted on a military truck, its distinct design features were sufficiently visible to identify it as the FH-97, or Feihong-97. This cutting-edge drone was developed by a subsidiary of the state-owned China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (AVIC), underscoring China’s rapid advancements in military aerospace technology.
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