Houthis & Iran conflict show that 2010s era persistent UCAV are very vulnerable against committed adversaries w/ mobile, pop-up air defense.

PLA's CH-4 & GJ-2 will likely suffer large losses even operating in permissive air space. As such, it needs to move toward more VLO UAS like GJ-11/21 or large bomb truck type of UCAV like GJ-3 & Jiutian that can carry cheaper stand off munitions like jet-powered FT-12A & other "smart bombs" that can glide up to 500 km to target. This offers good compromise — via @tphuang

UCAV vulnerability to mobile air defense signals PLA shift to VLO UAS.