China has deployed its advanced stealth unmanned combat aerial vehicles (UCAVs), the GJ-11 “Sharp Sword,” to the strategically important Shigatse Air Base in Tibet near the Indian border. Satellite images from August to September 2025 confirm the presence of multiple GJ-11 drones at this high-altitude base, signaling a significant operational milestone beyond previous test facilities. Developed over a decade, the flying-wing design combines stealth, penetrating strike capability, and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) functions. The deployment at 3,782 meters altitude demonstrates China’s confidence in the GJ-11’s engine performance and reliability in harsh plateau conditions. The drones can operate in concert with manned fighters like the J-20, serving both air-to-surface strike roles and electronic warfare functions. This move marks a notable escalation in China’s high-altitude combat capabilities along the Himalayan frontier, emphasizing a push for air dominance through intelligent, autonomous systems. The GJ-11 also reflects China’s lead in developing stealth combat drones capable of integration into networked warfare, potentially challenging India’s air defense outlook in the border region. This deployment adds to broader Chinese military modernization efforts seen in recent years.