China says stealth attack drone makes first take-off, landing on amphibious ship
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The drone trial underscores China’s push to integrate drone technology into its military modernisation drive.
PHOTO: EPA
- China says its GJ-21 stealth drone made its first takeoff and landing on the Sichuan, a Type 076 amphibious assault ship, showing progress in naval drone use.
- Xinhua called the test “a breakthrough” and said it proves the navy can fly fixed-wing stealth drones from large warships.
- The Sichuan, launched in December 2024, has electromagnetic catapult and arresting gear, and China says it has been carrying out sea trials and training missions.
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BEIJING – China’s first carrier-based stealth reconnaissance and strike drone, the GJ-21, recently completed its first take-off and landing on the Sichuan, the country’s first Type 076 amphibious assault ship, state news agency Xinhua reported on Oct 30.
The trial underscores Beijing’s push to integrate drone technology into its military modernisation drive, a decades-long effort in which China has developed advanced warships, fighter jets, missiles and increasingly capable unmanned systems.
Xinhua hailed the test as “a breakthrough in China’s amphibious assault ship programme” and said it signifies the navy’s ability to operate fixed-wing stealth drones from large naval platforms.
GJ-21 first appeared at a military parade Beijing held in 2025 to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, where it displayed different types of weapons.
State tabloid Global Times reported on Oct 30 that GJ-21 has a substantial combat radius despite having a smaller airframe than the stealthy J-35 and J-20 fighters, citing military expert Zhang Xuefeng. “GJ-21 is also low cost and reusable. Unlike hypersonic missiles, it can be recovered and redeployed multiple times. It can also deploy small, low-cost glide-guided bombs. Under high-tempo operations, it offers greater fire delivery efficiency with better cost control,” Zhang was quoted as saying.
The Sichuan, the lead vessel of China’s Type 076 amphibious assault ship class, was launched in December 2024 and features electromagnetic catapult and arresting technology. It can carry fixed-wing drones, helicopters and amphibious equipment.
The vessel has a full-load displacement of more than 40,000 tonnes and features a full-length flight deck and twin-island superstructure.
China’s state television network CCTV said on Oct 30 that the indigenously developed vessel conducted consecutive sea trials in late October. It did not disclose locations of the trials.
China’s navy said in April that the Sichuan sailed to waters in the South China Sea for scientific testing and training missions. It said at the time that the deployment was a routine test and was not aimed at any specific target. REUTERS