OMM Newsroom
China’s GJ-21 stealth reconnaissance and strike drone has taken off from and landed on the deck of the country’s first Type 076-class amphibious assault ship, the Sichuan, for the first time. Chinese state media reported the test on October 30, AnewZ said.
Xinhua called the test a “breakthrough” in China’s amphibious assault ship program. The agency said it showed the Chinese navy’s growing ability to operate fixed-wing stealth drones from large naval platforms.
The test is being presented as another step in China’s military modernization program, which includes developing advanced warships, fighter jets, missiles and unmanned systems.
GJ-21 designed for repeated use
The GJ-21 was first shown to the public in 2025 at a Beijing parade marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II.
China’s state-owned Global Times newspaper said the aircraft is smaller than the J-35 and J-20 stealth fighters but has a significant combat radius. Military expert Zhang Xuefeng, quoted by the newspaper, said the GJ-21 is relatively inexpensive and reusable, and can be recovered for use in multiple missions.
The expert added that the GJ-21 can carry small, low-cost glide bombs. In his view, this could improve operational efficiency while keeping costs down during high-intensity missions.
Sichuan’s sea trials
The Sichuan, the first ship in China’s Type 076 class, was launched in December 2024. Equipped with an electromagnetic catapult and aircraft arresting systems, it can launch and recover fixed-wing drones and conduct operations involving helicopters and amphibious equipment.
The ship has a displacement of more than 40,000 tonnes at full load. It features a full-length flight deck and two islands.
China Central Television reported on Friday that the domestically built ship completed a series of sea trials in late October. The location of the trials was not disclosed.
The Chinese navy said in April that the Sichuan had entered the South China Sea for scientific tests and training missions. It described the deployment as routine and said it was not directed at any specific target.
