[1] Introduced during China's 70th anniversary military parade, the drone is intended to conduct strategic aerial reconnaissance across southeast Asia, particularly Taiwan, South Korea and Japan.

The aircraft bears some superficial resemblance to the DF-ZF hypersonic glide vehicle mounted onboard DF-17 medium-range ballistic missile and the American Lockheed D-21 reconnaissance drone,[5] albeit different in overall dimensions, propulsions, and speed.

[8] A drone able to sustain flight at a high altitude and speed would allow it to fill up intelligence needs in a combat environment where satellite support is unsustainable,[9] such as repeated fly-over above specific areas of interest.

"[2] Dean Cheng of the Potomac Institute for Policy Studies said the aircraft is intended for surveillance "not just aimed at the United States or South Korea, Japan has to worry about it.

The document stated that the drone's sensors, including electro-optical imaging and synthetic-aperture radar (SAR), could gather intelligence on Taiwan and the western side of South Korea.