China Tests GJ-21 Drone Aboard Type 076 Warship

On 30 October 2026, the GJ-21 completed its first take-off and landing aboard the Sichuan (Hull 51), China’s first Type 076 amphibious assault ship. The People’s Liberation Army Navy announced the test, describing it as a breakthrough in the country’s amphibious assault ship programme. The trial demonstrated the operation of a fixed-wing stealth drone from a large naval platform.

The Sichuan and sea trials

Launched on 27 December 2024, the Sichuan has a full-length flight deck, a dual-island superstructure, electromagnetic catapult and arresting systems. Its full-load displacement exceeds 40,000 tonnes. The ship completed consecutive sea trials in late October, but their location was not disclosed. In April, it sailed into the South China Sea for testing and training missions, which the navy described as routine and not directed at a specific target.

GJ-21 capabilities

The GJ-21 is a naval derivative of the GJ-11 stealth drone, designed for reconnaissance and strike. Military expert Zhang Xuefeng, cited by Global Times, said it has a substantial combat radius, is reusable and can carry small glide-guided bombs. The drone was publicly displayed at a 2025 military parade marking 80 years since the end of the Second World War. Some military experts have called the test a global first for a catapult-enabled drone carrier. As of 30 October, Chinese authorities had released no official images or videos of the flight operations.

Important Facts for Exams

• Naval airframe fittings: The naval GJ-21, also designated GJ-11J, has folding wings, an arrestor hook and a catapult launch bar on double nose gear for CATOBAR operations.
• Catapult-and-recovery arrangement: Type 076 combines an electromagnetic catapult and arresting gear for light fixed-wing aircraft with a stern well dock, pairing drone-carrier and landing-helicopter-dock functions.
• Baseline airframe: The GJ-11 uses a tailless flying-wing layout and two internal weapons bays, keeping its armament within the airframe.
• Island functions: The Type 076’s twin-island superstructure separates navigation functions from flight operations, assigning them to different superstructure sections.