physics

Hongdu GJ-11

Hongdu GJ-11 is a physics topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand Hongdu GJ-11 rather than just read about it. In short: The Hongdu GJ-11 Sharp Sword (Chinese: 攻击-11 利剑; pinyin: gongji-11 lì jiàn) is an unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) developed in the People's Republic of China between 2009 and 2025 for the People's Liberation Army. It was designed by Shenyang Aircraft Design Institute (SYADI) and Hongdu Aviation Industry Group (HAIG), and is part of seven proposed models by the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) prog…

Key takeaways

Hongdu GJ-11 belongs to physics; place it in that map before memorising details.
Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
Connect Hongdu GJ-11 to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
Reproduce the core statement of Hongdu GJ-11 from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

The Hongdu GJ-11 Sharp Sword (Chinese: 攻击-11 利剑; pinyin: gongji-11 lì jiàn) is an unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) developed in the People's Republic of China between 2009 and 2025 for the People's Liberation Army. It was designed by Shenyang Aircraft Design Institute (SYADI) and Hongdu Aviation Industry Group (HAIG), and is part of seven proposed models by the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) program called "AVIC 601-S". The GJ-11 can perform precision strike and aerial reconnaissance missions.

Development The Sharp Sword UCAV program was unveiled in 2009 and the first aircraft began ground testing on December 13, 2012. Early versions were less stealthy with an exposed engine nozzle. Images of the aircraft's 20 minute long maiden flight appeared on the internet on November 21st 2013, where the "Sharp Sword" took off from HAIG airfield. This made China the fourth country to successfully conduct a maiden flight of a UCAV, after the United States, France and the UK. In October 2021, AVIC showcased the GJ-11 at Airshow China. The drone is reportedly capable of taking off autonomously from Type 076 amphibious assault ships. The stealthy drone is able to deploy swarming air-launched decoys or electronic warfare systems, in addition to launching precision-guided munitions. In October 2022, Chinese media showcased the computer-generated concept of three GJ-11 being controlled by a two-seat variant of the Chengdu J-20 fighter jet, akin to the Loyal Wingman program of the United States. The drone was in testing and evaluation as of 2021, with serial production planned for 2022. In 2024, multiple GJ-11 drones were observed in the PLAAF Malan Air Base, a major hub for testing unmanned platforms. The PLA also tested the integration of GJ-11 with manned aircraft as manned-unmanned teams. A naval variant was under development for Type 076 big-deck amphibious assault ships. Operational testing continued in late 2025 at Shigatse Peace Airport. A mockup was displayed at the 2025 China Victory Day Parade. In September 2025 the GJ-11 was very likely already in service with the PLA. In January 2026, the naval GJ-21 (GJ-11J) mock-up was spotted on the Type 076, indicating further development progress of the naval variant. In May 2026, a GJ-21 prototype with arrestor hook and catapult launch bar on its nose wheel was spotted undergoing flight testing.

Design The GJ-11 uses a tailless flying wing design with two internal weapons bays. Stealth features include the shaping of the rear airframe around the engine exhaust and serrated weapon bay doors. The aircraft is powered by a single turbofan engine of unknown type, and the overall wingspan is 14 meters. The GJ-11 is referred to as the "loyal wingman" by the Chinese military. The naval GJ-21, also known as the GJ-11J, features folded wings, an arrestor hook for landing, and a double nose gear with catapult launch bar, intended for CATOBAR operation with electromagnetic catapult on Chinese aircraft carriers.

Variants GJ-11 Original variant GJ-21 Also designated GJ-11J, naval carrier-based variant.

Specifications

General characteristics

Crew: None Length: 12.2 m (40 ft 0 in) Wingspan: 14.4 m (47 ft 3 in) Height: 2.7 m (8 ft 10 in) Powerplant: 1 × unnamed Guizhou-built turbofan Performance Armament

Internal weapons bays: Up to 2,000 kilograms (4,400 lb) payload Bombs

References

Illustrations

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with Hongdu GJ-11

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what Hongdu GJ-11 claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In physics, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to Hongdu GJ-11 before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about Hongdu GJ-11 ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of Hongdu GJ-11

In research: Hongdu GJ-11 appears in physics research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry: Engineering practice reuses Hongdu GJ-11 in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom: Hongdu GJ-11 is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics Aircraft first flown in 2013, Hongdu aircraft, People's Liberation Army Air Force, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life: Look for Hongdu GJ-11 outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

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How to study Hongdu GJ-11 in 20 minutes

Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
Close the page and write down what Hongdu GJ-11 means in your own words.
Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
Explain Hongdu GJ-11 out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is Hongdu GJ-11 in simple terms?

Why does Hongdu GJ-11 matter?

Because it connects several physics ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study Hongdu GJ-11?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on Hongdu GJ-11.