BEIJING — China’s GJ-21 stealth reconnaissance and strike drone has reportedly completed its first takeoff and landing aboard the Sichuan (Hull 51), the country’s first Type 076 amphibious assault ship, during sea trials in late October 2026. The reported test marks a new step in China’s efforts to operate fixed-wing stealth drones from large naval platforms.
China’s state news agency Xinhua reported the development on October 30. The exact location of the trials was not disclosed. The Chinese military described the operation as a breakthrough in the Type 076 programme.
GJ-21 Stealth Drone and Naval Operations
The GJ-21 is China’s shipborne stealth drone designed for reconnaissance and strike missions. It was first publicly displayed during a military parade in Beijing in September 2025, marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II.
The drone features a tailless flying-wing design with an S-shaped upper air intake intended to reduce radar reflections. It is based on the earlier land-based GJ-11 and has been modified for shipboard operations with reinforced landing gear, a catapult launch bar and an arresting hook.
Military expert Zhang Xuefeng told the Global Times that the GJ-21 has a substantial combat radius despite having a smaller airframe than China’s J-20 and J-35 stealth fighters. Its flying-wing configuration improves subsonic cruise efficiency.
The drone is also described as a relatively low-cost, reusable platform capable of carrying small, low-cost glide-guided bombs. Unlike single-use missiles, it can be recovered and redeployed multiple times. Chinese experts have said its takeoff weight exceeds 10 tonnes, making catapult assistance necessary for shipboard launches.
Type 076 Sichuan Features Electromagnetic Catapult
The Sichuan, launched and named on December 27, 2024, is China’s first domestically designed and built Type 076 amphibious assault ship. It has a full-load displacement of more than 40,000 metric tons, a full-length flight deck and a twin-island superstructure.
The warship is equipped with an electromagnetic catapult and arresting system, an automated landing guidance system and an integrated electric power system. It is designed to operate fixed-wing drones, helicopters and amphibious equipment.
The electromagnetic catapult allows the GJ-21 to launch from the ship, while the arresting system supports its recovery. Chinese military affairs expert Song Zhongping said the successful operation makes the Type 076 the world’s first catapult-capable drone carrier. He added that the ship could operate independently as a drone carrier or support future manned-unmanned operations on aircraft carriers.
Vantor Satellite Imagery Shows Sichuan at Shanghai Shipyard
New Vantor satellite imagery dated October 30, 2026, shows the Type 076 Sichuan at a Shanghai shipyard, with arresting-gear fittings visible on its flight deck.
The imagery provides visual evidence of preparations for aircraft recovery operations aboard the warship. However, the satellite images do not independently confirm that the GJ-21 has completed the reported takeoff and landing tests.
China’s announcement was also carried by its Ministry of National Defense and official military channels. No official photographs or video of the actual GJ-21 takeoff and landing operations were released with the reports, and no independent footage has confirmed the reported flight tests.
🇨🇳 CHINA | TYPE 076 SICHUAN New Vantor satellite imagery from October 30 shows China's Type 076 amphibious assault ship Sichuan at a Shanghai shipyard, with arresting-gear fittings visible on its flight deck. China claims its GJ-21 stealth combat drone has successfully launched from and landed aboard the warship, marking a major step toward carrier-based unmanned combat operations. Satellite imagery supports preparations for drone operations, but no independent footage has confirmed the reported flight tests. 🛰️ Imagery: Vantor 📅 Captured: October 30, 2026 📍 Shanghai, China #China #Sichuan #SatelliteImagery #MizarVision
— MizarVision (@MizarVision) October 31, 2026
Sichuan Continues Sea Trials
Since its first sea trial in November 2025, the Sichuan has conducted maritime testing, including equipment checks and operational stability verification.
In April 2026, the Chinese navy said the ship had sailed into the South China Sea for scientific testing and training, describing the deployment as routine. China’s state television CCTV later confirmed that the vessel conducted consecutive sea trials in late October.
The latest reported test demonstrates the Type 076’s intended ability to support fixed-wing stealth drone operations using its electromagnetic catapult and arresting technology.
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