China has officially unveiled its newest large autonomous drone, the Wing Loong X, at the Dubai Airshow 2025. Although it looks similar to earlier Wing Loong models, this version is reported to be the first UAV in the world capable of fully independent anti-submarine warfare (ASW).
If confirmed, this would be a major breakthrough. Anti-submarine missions are considered the most complex and demanding tasks in maritime aviation. The Wing Loong X is also massive, with a wingspan of more than 65.6 feet (20 meters) — about the size of a small business jet.
The drone can fly for up to 40 hours without interruption and reach a ceiling of 32,808 feet (10,000 meters). This allows it to stay over key maritime chokepoints for nearly two days, constantly monitoring the waters below for submarine activity.
This endurance is something manned aircraft like the U.S. Navy’s P-8 Poseidon cannot achieve due to crew fatigue and high operational costs. One of the drone’s key features is its ability to deploy sonobuoys — small floating sensors that listen underwater for submarines.
Traditionally, only manned aircraft could drop these devices, which are used to analyze underwater sound and guide ships or helicopters toward potential submarine threats.
