China tests stealth drone on new amphibious ship

China’s naval aviation capabilities expanded on Friday when state media confirmed that the GJ-21, a stealth reconnaissance and strike drone, successfully conducted its first takeoff and landing from the Sichuan.

Xinhua News Agency reported the trial marked a milestone for the Type 076 amphibious assault ship program, confirming the navy can now operate fixed-wing stealth drones from large naval platforms. The GJ-21 is the first carrier-based stealth drone of its kind for China.

The Sichuan is the lead vessel of the Type 076 class, a ship class launched in December 2024. It features a full-length flight deck and a twin-island superstructure. The vessel has a full-load displacement of more than 40,000 metric tons and uses electromagnetic catapult and arresting technology to handle fixed-wing drones, helicopters, and amphibious equipment.

Military expert Zhang Xuefeng told the Global Times that the GJ-21 offers a substantial combat radius despite having a smaller airframe than the J-35 and J-20 stealth fighters. He noted the drone is low cost and reusable, allowing it to be recovered and redeployed multiple times, unlike hypersonic missiles. Zhang said the system can deploy small, low-cost glide-guided bombs, which improves fire delivery efficiency and cost control during high-tempo operations.

The GJ-21 was first shown to the public at a military parade last year, which marked the 80th anniversary of the end of World War Two. During that event, the drone displayed various types of weapons.

China’s state television network CCTV announced on Friday that the Sichuan completed consecutive sea trials in late October. The network did not specify the locations of these trials. In April, the Chinese navy stated the ship had sailed to the South China Sea for scientific testing and training, describing the deployment as a routine test that did not target any specific party.