China’s Wing Loong X Eyes Global Buyers

At the recent Singapore Airshow, China brought its aviation fireworks. Front and center stood the sleek J-35A, posed like a stealthy supermodel under bright expo lights.

But over at the massive booth of Aviation Industry Corporation of China, something quieter sat with far more realistic export potential. The new Wing Loong X, as reported by Defense News.

And if you follow the money instead of the flash, this drone may be the real headline.

A Maritime Drone Built to Travel

The Wing Loong X is designed for maritime surveillance and strike missions. Think long endurance patrols over open water, scanning for submarines, ships, or anything else that should not be there.

With a reported 24 meter wingspan, this is not a hobby quadcopter with a GoPro taped on. Earlier prototypes displayed in China showed underwing sonobuoy dispenser pods and even electric propulsion torpedoes. That means anti submarine warfare is very much part of the sales pitch.

At Singapore, AVIC kept payload details limited. That is classic defense marketing. Show the airframe. Hint at the possibilities. Let potential buyers imagine their own weapon menu.

And there is a market for this.

China’s earlier Wing Loong variants already operate in countries like Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt, Pakistan, Morocco, Algeria, Indonesia, and Nigeria. In 2024, the Royal Saudi Air Force logged 5,000 flight hours with its Wing Loong II fleet. Trust me, that’s a lot of flights.

That is not a trial run. That is operational routine.

In other words, the Wing Loong brand is no longer experimental. It is established.

The Price Advantage Nobody Ignores

Analysts point out that Chinese drones are increasingly competitive in capability while remaining significantly cheaper than Western equivalents.

That combination is powerful.

Many countries want maritime ISR and strike capability. Not all of them can afford high end Western systems. Others face export controls or political conditions that make deals complicated.

China steps in with a simpler pitch. Comparable capability. Fewer political lectures. Lower invoice.

In defense procurement, that is often enough.

The Wing Loong X could easily become the go to option for countries looking to strengthen naval surveillance without writing a check the size of an aircraft carrier.

Meanwhile, the J-35A Faces a Tough Crowd

The J-35A attracted plenty of attention at the airshow. Fifth generation fighters always do. They are the sports cars of military aviation.

But selling them is another story.

According to a 2025 report from the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission, China reportedly offered 40 J-35As to Pakistan. Deliveries have not yet been completed.

The problem is simple. The countries that can afford fifth generation jets are usually aligned with the United States or already deeply tied to Russia. That leaves a very narrow lane for Beijing.

Fighter jets are political statements with wings. Drones are practical tools with propellers.

And practicality tends to win contracts.

DroneXL’s Take

The J-35A might dominate the Instagram feed, but the Wing Loong X is built for spreadsheets and naval budgets.

If China prices it aggressively and keeps performance solid, this drone could quietly expand Beijing’s footprint across coastal nations that want maritime muscle without Western strings attached.

It may not be glamorous.

But in today’s drone market, endurance, affordability, and availability beat airshow glamour every time.

Photo credit: Elisabeth Gosselin-Malo, @OSINTWarfare via X.