"The very large flying wing has a span of approximately 173 feet — roughly the width of a B-2 Spirit stealth bomber."
Malan test base: imagery from March 26, 2026 shows intensified activity
Satellite imagery dated March 26, 2026, and provided by Planet Labs shows two massive stealthy flying‑wing high‑altitude, long‑endurance (HALE) unmanned aircraft together on the main apron at a high‑security test complex near Malan, a facility TWZ has identified as central to the PLA’s unmanned combat aircraft development efforts. TWZ first identified the aircraft in Planet Labs archived imagery last year, but this capture is the first time both have been observed simultaneously outside their hangars or on the main apron at all.
The WZ‑X — “The Monster of Malan” (approx. 173‑foot wingspan)
Parked on the main apron adjacent to the runway is the largest of the flying wings, referred to in reporting as "WZ‑X" by some observers and nicknamed "The Monster of Malan." TWZ reports a wingspan of approximately 173 feet. Other details about its official designation or manufacturer remain unknown in the published imagery and analysis. Planet Labs imagery and TWZ commentary emphasize that the WZ‑X is the largest design of this category seen to date at the installation.
Cranked‑kite variant (approx. 137‑foot wingspan) and its likely missions
The second large flying wing sits outside a hangar on the opposite side of the complex. TWZ describes this variant as a 'cranked kite' planform with an estimated wingspan of approximately 137 feet and a likely higher gross weight and lower operating ceiling than its wider stablemate. Based on prior analysis cited by TWZ, this cranked‑kite configuration appears well suited to intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) roles but could also function as a supersized unmanned combat air vehicle (UCAV) capable of very long‑range heavy strike missions.
Additional visible aircraft and the testbed role of the complex
Planet Labs imagery also shows what TWZ identifies as a stealth fighter‑like drone and a Xi’an Y‑20 transport on the main apron in the same capture. The sprawling Malan complex is described as a high‑security installation configured to run multiple programs simultaneously. TWZ notes a pattern of sustained activity at the site over months: archived Planet Labs images and exercise ramp shots from late 2025 show dozens of drones staged on the east side of the ramp and a general uptick in testing and advanced exercises that blend drone capabilities with existing fixed‑wing tactical airpower.
What this means for technologists, policymakers, and military planners
- Technologists and defensive systems teams: the emergence of multiple very large flying‑wing HALE designs — one with a roughly 173‑foot wingspan and another cranked‑kite at about 137 feet — suggests an expanding set of platform sizes and mission envelopes to analyze for signatures, endurance, and payload carriage. The imagery indicates sustained, simultaneous testing that will provide engineers with flight and integration data over time.
- Policymakers and procurement leaders: the visible acceleration of activity at Malan, and the diversity of configurations seen there, underlines that investment is being directed into a multipronged unmanned combat ecosystem. TWZ frames this as part of a broader push that intensified after a 2025 military parade showcased multiple fighter‑drone concepts and preceded stepped‑up testing.
- Military planners: the mix of HALE flying wings, cranked‑kite ISR/strike variants, stealth fighter‑like drones, and transport support on the apron points to experimentation with force combinations and exercises that blend unmanned systems with existing tactical airpower—scenarios that will shape operational employment if these platforms reach sustained service.
TWZ places the new imagery in a comparative context, noting that the March 2026 sightings come as analysts have had their "first good look" at America's own RQ‑180 HALE stealth drone, which TWZ reports has been flying for some time and is now being used operationally. The reporting stresses that an imposing appearance alone does not guarantee survivability or integration into a joint force, but that China appears to be betting heavily on advanced, large unmanned flying‑wing designs.
For now, the facts in the public record are specific and visual: two very large flying wings outside their hangars on March 26, 2026; a roughly 173‑foot span "WZ‑X" and a roughly 137‑foot cranked‑kite variant; additional stealth fighter‑like drones and a Xi’an Y‑20 visible at the same complex. The imagery confirms intensified, multi‑program testing at Malan and sets a narrow, observable ledger of activity for analysts and decision‑makers to follow.
