In the desert of far-western China, a passing satellite caught something Beijing would much rather keep in the shadows: two enormous stealth flying wings, sitting in the open on a remote airfield — the larger of them nearly as wide as an American B-2 bomber.
The image, taken on 26 March 2026 by Planet Labs and analysed by the defence outlet The War Zone, is the first time both of these secretive aircraft have been seen out of their hangars at the same time. There is no official photo, no designation, no press release. Everything we know comes from grainy overhead passes — and what they show is a Chinese drone programme moving fast.
| Where | Malan test base, Xinjiang, China |
| Larger drone | “WZ-X” / “Monster of Malan” — ~173 ft span (B-2 is ~172 ft) |
| Second drone | ‘Cranked-kite’ planform, ~137 ft span, heavier |
| Type | Stealthy high-altitude, long-endurance (HALE) drones |
| Source | Planet Labs satellite imagery, dated 26 March 2026 |
The Monster of Malan
The bigger of the two aircraft has earned the nickname “the Monster of Malan” (some analysts label it “WZ-X”). Its wingspan of around 173 feet makes it the largest Chinese flying-wing design seen to date — wider than a B-2 Spirit, and far larger than most of the world’s uncrewed aircraft. It was first picked out of satellite imagery back in 2024; its true designation and manufacturer are still unknown.
The second flying wing is different: a ‘cranked-kite’ shape with a roughly 137-foot span, heavier-looking and probably built for a lower operating altitude. Analysts assess it as an intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance platform that could double as a very-long-range, heavy-payload strike drone. Both appear to have been flying for months.
A whole ecosystem in the desert
What makes the picture striking is not just the two giants, but the company they keep. The same imagery shows a tailless, stealth fighter-like drone parked on the apron — its planform echoing China’s sixth-generation manned fighter work — alongside a Y-20 heavy transport. Malan, in other words, is not testing one secret aircraft. It is running a portfolio.
It fits a pattern we have written about before: China is pouring resources into stealth aircraft of every size, from fighters to bombers to these vast unmanned wings. The nearest Western equivalent is America’s own RQ-180, a stealthy HALE drone that has been flying in secret for years and is now operational.
What we still don’t know
A caveat is in order. A formidable silhouette on a satellite image is not the same as a combat-ready weapon. We cannot see these aircraft’s engines, sensors, range or how they would fare against modern air defences — only their outlines from directly overhead. But the direction of travel is unmistakable: China is betting big, and building large, on stealthy unmanned flight. The next time one of these wings slips out of its hangar, someone with a camera in orbit will almost certainly be watching.
Sources: The War Zone; satellite imagery © Planet Labs; Aerospace Global News. (Satellite images referenced but not reproduced.)
Related Questions
What are China's B-2-sized stealth drones?
China's B-2-sized stealth drones are two enormous uncrewed flying wings photographed at a remote western Chinese airfield in March 2026. The larger of the pair spans nearly as wide as an American B-2 bomber. Neither has an official designation, and everything known about them comes from satellite imagery rather than any Chinese announcement.
Where were China's giant stealth drones spotted?
The drones were caught by a Planet Labs satellite on 26 March 2026 at the Malan test base in Xinjiang, in far-western China, and analysed by the defence outlet The War Zone. It was the first time both secretive aircraft had been seen out of their hangars at the same time, sitting in the open with no accompanying announcement.
How big is China's WZ-X drone?
The larger drone, informally dubbed the WZ-X or 'Monster of Malan,' has a wingspan of roughly 173 feet, almost identical to the American B-2 bomber's 172 feet. Analysts assess it as the largest Chinese design of its kind seen to date. A second, cranked-kite flying wing nearby spans about 137 feet.
What is the WZ-X 'Monster of Malan'?
The WZ-X, nicknamed the 'Monster of Malan,' is a giant Chinese stealth flying-wing drone with a wingspan near 173 feet. First picked out of satellite imagery in 2024, its true designation and manufacturer remain unknown. Its size and shape suggest a high-altitude, very-long-range platform, part of a fast-moving Chinese drone programme.
What is China's Malan test base?
Malan is a Chinese test base in Xinjiang used to develop advanced and secretive aircraft. Recent satellite imagery there showed not only two giant stealth flying wings but also a tailless drone echoing China's sixth-generation fighter work and a Y-20 heavy transport, evidence of a whole ecosystem of cutting-edge aviation projects in the desert.
Why is China building large stealth drones?
China's large stealth drones point to ambitions for long-range surveillance and strike far beyond its shores. The smaller cranked-kite design is assessed as a reconnaissance platform that could double as a heavy-payload strike drone. The programme complements China's crewed stealth fighters, part of a broader push where drones increasingly team with manned jets.
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