China China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation
WJ-700 (Falcon)
A medium/high-altitude long-endurance combat drone developed by CASIC, unveiled at Airshow China 2018 and first flown January 2021. Marketed for reconnaissance, electronic warfare and strike, it has been exported to Algeria and offered to Egypt and other Middle Eastern/African customers.
In service since 2021 · 2 operator countries
Compiled from public sources ·primary reference ↗ ·last verified 2026-07-24
700
km/h
15,000
m ceiling
800
kg payload
Pricing: Unit cost not publicly disclosed
Procurement snapshot
Availability & export
Chinese state channel
State export agencies (NORINCO/CATIC); limited availability to Western-aligned states.
Channel: State export agency
Fielded & proven
Limited · 2 operators
In service since 2021. Status: active.
Lifecycle cost (est.)
No public unit price to model from. Why so few systems publish one →
Interoperability
No standardised NATO calibre / datalink detected in public specs.
Derived guidance from public data, export regime by country of origin, lifecycle from the GAO ~30% acquisition rule. Verify eligibility, pricing and offsets with the manufacturer and your acquisition authority.
Compatible munitions & weapons
Publicly reported weapons the WJ-700 (Falcon) can carry. Linked items have a full spec page.
Full specifications
Performance
Speed, range, altitude and engagement capability.
| Max speed Maximum level speed. For aircraft this is at optimal altitude; for ground vehicles, top road speed. Higher means faster response and better kinematic performance. | 700 km/h |
|---|---|
| Cruise speed Sustained economical speed. Determines transit time to station. | 400 km/h |
| Service ceiling Maximum operating altitude. Higher gives energy advantage and sensor horizon. | 15,000 m |
| Endurance Time on station. Critical for UAVs and patrol platforms, higher means longer persistent coverage. | 20 h |
Firepower
Armament, payload and guidance.
| Hardpoints External stations for weapons and pods. More means bigger and more flexible loadouts. | 4 |
|---|---|
| Weapons payload Maximum ordnance weight the platform can carry. Higher means more strike capacity per sortie. | 800 kg |
Physical
Dimensions, weight and crew.
| Wingspan Wingtip-to-wingtip span. | 22 m |
|---|---|
| Combat weight Fully loaded weight. Lighter eases transport and bridging limits; heavier often means more armor. | 3,500 kg |
| Crew Personnel required to operate. Fewer reduces exposure; autoloaders trade a loader for mechanical complexity. | 0 |
Propulsion
Engine, power and fuel.
| Engine Powerplant model and type. | WP11 turbofan |
|---|---|
| Engines Number of engines. Twin-engine gives redundancy at higher cost. | 1 |
| Propulsion type Turbofan, turboshaft, diesel, gas turbine, solid-fuel rocket, ramjet… | Turbofan |
Program
Cost, production scale and operators.
| Operator countries Number of countries operating the system. More operators means broader support ecosystem. | 2 |
|---|
Specifications compiled from public China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation and reference sources ↗. Published defense figures are approximations, treat comparisons as directional. Last verified 2026-07-24.
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What is the top speed of the China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation WJ-700 (Falcon)? +
The China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation WJ-700 (Falcon) has a maximum speed of 700 km/h.
What is the weapons payload of the China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation WJ-700 (Falcon)? +
The China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation WJ-700 (Falcon) can carry up to 800 kg of weapons payload.
How much does the China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation WJ-700 (Falcon) weigh? +
The China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation WJ-700 (Falcon) has a combat weight of 3,500 kg.
How many crew does the China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation WJ-700 (Falcon) require? +
The China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation WJ-700 (Falcon) requires a crew of 0.
What engine does the China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation WJ-700 (Falcon) use? +
The China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation WJ-700 (Falcon) is powered by the WP11 turbofan.
What is the China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation WJ-700 (Falcon) used for? +
The China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation WJ-700 (Falcon) is a uav / drone typically used for isr, close air support.
How many countries operate the China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation WJ-700 (Falcon)? +
The China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation WJ-700 (Falcon) is operated by 2 countries.
How much does the China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation WJ-700 (Falcon) cost? +
China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation WJ-700 (Falcon): Unit cost not publicly disclosed. Defense program costs are rarely fully public and vary by contract and configuration.
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