--- title: "Stealthy GJ-21 Drone Has Launched And Recovered From Type 076 Amphibious Assault Ship, China Claims" description: "Signs that the PLAN has been building up to this significant milestone in naval airpower have been growing for more than a year." date: "2026-10-30" modified: "2026-10-30" authors: - name: "Joseph Trevithick" job_title: "Deputy Editor" link: "https://www.twz.com/authors/joseph-trevithick.md" url: "https://www.twz.com/air/stealthy-gj-21-drone-has-launched-and-recovered-from-type-076-amphibious-assault-ship-china-claims" categories: - "Air" - "Amphibious Assault Ships" - "Around The Globe" - "China" - "Drones" - "Indo-Pacific" - "News & Features" - "Sea" - "UCAVs" - "Unmanned" --- # Stealthy GJ-21 Drone Has Launched And Recovered From Type 076 Amphibious Assault Ship, China Claims ![A GJ-21 stealthy flying-wing uncrewed combat air vehicle (UCAV) has successfully launched from and recovered aboard the Type 076 amphibious assault ship Sichuan, according to China's People's Liberation Army (PLA).]() *Satellite image ©2026 Vantor* A GJ-21 stealthy flying-wing uncrewed combat air vehicle (UCAV) has successfully launched from and recovered aboard [the Type 076 amphibious assault ship *Sichuan*](), according to China's People's Liberation Army (PLA). Visual confirmation of this milestone has yet to emerge, but there have been steady signs of preparations for flight trials from the *Sichuan*, which features an electromagnetic catapult. GJ-21s have already been spotted flying from airfields on land. ![]() *A picture of a GJ-21 drone that previously emerged online. *Chinese internet** The GJ-21 and [the land-based GJ-11 Mysterious Dragon]() it is based on are prime examples of China's major investments in UCAVs and other flying-wing-type drones. These developments stand in particular contrast to [the U.S. military’s eschewing of such designs](), at [least publicly](). This is despite significant past U.S. achievements in this arena, including in the development of carrier-based UCAVs. The PLA Navy (PLAN) now looks to be on track to be the first country to field an operational capability of this kind. ![]() *A stock picture of the Type 076 amphibious assault ship *Sichuan*. PLA* "China’s first ship-borne stealth reconnaissance and attack drone 'GJ-21' recently made its first successful take-off and landing on \[the Type\] 076 amphibious assault ship, the 'Sichuan' (Hull 51)," according to [a post today from the China Military Bugle]() account on X, an official PLA mouthpiece. "This is another significant breakthrough in the development of China's amphibious assault ship, indicating that the Chinese Navy now has the capability to operate fixed-wing stealth drones from large maritime combat platforms." At the time of writing, neither the PLA nor Chinese state media have shared where or when these trials occurred or provided any other additional details, including how many total launches and recoveries were conducted. No official pictures or videos from the testing have been released so far. ![]() *A graphic that accompanied the post on the China Military Bugle's account on X regarding the GJ-21 and the Type 076. *PLA/China Military Bugle** Unconfirmed claims that a GJ-21 had been launched from *Sichuan* had already begun circulating on social media earlier this month. As an aside, the GJ-21 is readily discernible from the land-based GJ-11 by the catapult bar on its nose landing gear strut. https://twitter.com/RupprechtDeino/status/2110762872770818392 A review of satellite imagery from Planet Labs does show *Sichuan* was at its usual berth at Hudong-Zhonghua in Shanghai as of October 13, but absent four days later. When exactly it left port is unclear. The one-of-a-kind Type 076 does not appear to have returned until October 26. *TWZ* has also obtained a satellite image of Hudong-Zhonghua taken just today from Vantor, with the ship still seen sitting at the pier, as seen at the top of this story and below. GJ-21 drones, or more likely mockups thereof, have also been present on the pier for some time. ![]() *The Type 076 amphibious assault ship *Sichuan* at the Hudong-Zhonghua shipyard on October 10, 2026. What is widely assessed to be a mothership for large uncrewed underwater vehicles (UUV) is also seen at right. *Satellite image ©2026 Vantor** Even while *Sichuan* was still under construction, [there were growing signs]() that a navalized version of the GJ-11, as well as other uncrewed platforms, would be [major components of its future air wing](). With its electromagnetic catapult and notably large overall size, the Type 076 is unlike any other big-deck amphibious warship in service today globally, as [*TWZ* has previously explored in depth](). ![]() *A pair of apparent GJ-11 mockups at a test and/or training site on Changxing Island in Shanghai in May 2024, near where the Type 076 was under construction at the time. *Google Earth** As mentioned, there have been further signs that the PLA has been preparing *Sichuan* for real launches and recoveries, especially of GJ-21s, since last year. Pictures emerged online in October 2025 showing a red-colored test ‘truck’ on the ship's flight deck, indicating the start of catapult testing. Video from those tests has since been released. Weighted trucks like this have long been used to test catapults on aircraft carriers during construction [or following maintenance](). The Type 076 left port for the first time in November 2025. https://twitter.com/chaoyinsukandao/status/1983129795597947009 https://twitter.com/DavidWangPLA/status/2083372011817185305 "Two GJ-21 aircraft were displayed at the victory parade in September 2025, reportedly having entered PLAN service in mid-2025," [according to Andreas Rupprecht](), an expert on Chinese aviation and [contributor to *TWZ*](). "By late 2025, several GJ-21 aircraft were reportedly undergoing simulated EMALS launches and arrested landings at [the PLAN’s land-based facility at Huangdicun]()." In February of this year, GJ-21 mockups were spotted on *Sichuan*'s flight deck and riding on the ship's port-side elevator to the hangar deck as part of what appeared to be deck-handling trials. https://twitter.com/RupprechtDeino/status/2017887784803950869 More recent satellite imagery had shown that the Type 076's flight deck had received additional markings in line with progress toward real flight operations. Fittings for three arresting cables also became plainly visible. Those cables are also notably depicted in the graphic that the China Military Bugle shared online today. ![]() *The arresting gear fittings as seen in the October 30, 2026, satellite image from Vantor, at left, as well as how they are depicted in the graphic from the China Military Bugle. *Satellite image ©2026 Vantor/PLA** The GJ-21 will of course not be the only aircraft in the Type 076's future air wing. The ship is also expected to carry a variety of other uncrewed aircraft, as well as crewed helicopters. China [has shown a range]() of [other combat drone designs]() in recent years. Navalized versions could well be developed for deployment on *Sichuan*, as well as PLAN's growing fleet of traditional carriers and other suitable configured vessels. Loading the Type 076 with operational UCAVs would only underscore the significance of this particular ship. As [we have previously written](): *“The potential value to the PLAN of having a fleet of very large deck amphibious assault ships that are highly capable of large-scale drone operations as well as traditional amphibious assaults is clear. These ships could be used to launch and recover UCAVs like the GJ-11 and other types of drones to perform a host of missions from maritime strike to intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR). They could be used to provide additional ‘mass’ in support of the operations of larger carrier strike groups and help to free the air wings of flattops like Fujian up for tasks they might be better suited for. In addition, they could provide a lower tier of naval aviation support that could be employed independently.”* … *“Simply having more naval aviation capacity overall would give the PLAN added flexibility for various operations closer to the mainland, including a [potential military intervention against Taiwan]() or defending [its expansive and largely unrecognized territorial claims]() in places [like the South China Sea](). Type 076s could also help project naval and air power further from China’s shores, something that has [also been a driving factor]() behind the [country’s broader carrier ambitions]().”* … *“The Type 076 could help provide support during humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations. Big deck amphibious warfare ships, in general, provide their operators with immensely valuable platforms for projecting both hard [and soft power]().”* https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXoc27r22iY Last year, the PLA separately confirmed that the GJ-11 had entered at least limited operational service. That followed [a steady ramp-up in testing of that drone]() based on what could be seen in satellite imagery and video clips that had emerged online. This included evidence of near-daily flights at Malan Air Base, a [major hub for testing uncrewed platforms](). GJ-11s had also [been spotted at an operational air base]() in China’s Tibet Autonomous Region. https://twitter.com/OSPSF/status/1988113011375272205 As mentioned earlier, the continued development of the GJ-11 and GJ-21 are reflective of the PLA's broader pursuit of stealthy flying-wing drones, which is not limited to UCAVs. [Several larger designs]() that look most immediately [suited to high-altitude, long-endurance ISR missions]() have [also broken cover in the country]() in the past few years. There is something of a trend in this regard globally, with [Russia](), [India](), [Turkey](), and [France]() also pursuing flying-wing drone designs. The U.S. military continues to be markedly absent from this space, [at least that we know](), despite major investments and real demonstrations of relevant capability, before various programs were abandoned for [reasons that still remain largely unclear](). In the late 2010s, the U.S. Navy notably looked to be right on the edge of fielding [a carrier-based UCAV, before changing course entirely]() to an uncrewed tanker instead. There are some signs now that the service [may be taking another look at the capabilities]() it passed over. It is still to be seen how quickly the PLA's official statement today will be followed by real confirmation of the launching and recovery of a GJ-21 from the *Sichuan*. *Contact the author: joe@twz.com* ## Author Joseph is *TWZ’s* Deputy Editor, helping to oversee the site’s highly experienced and dedicated team, while also writing informative and impactful defense and national security content. He lives right in the thick of it in the Washington, D.C. area. ### Author social links [Twitter]() [Bluesky]() ## More - [China’s Monster Type 076 Amphibious Assault Ship Seen Like Never Before At Launch Ceremony]() - [China’s Type 076 Supersized Amphibious Assault Ship Heads To Sea On Its Maiden Voyage]() - [China’s Type 076 Is Shaping Up To Be A Monster Amphibious Warship]() - [China’s Monster Amphibious Assault Ship Has Twin Island Superstructures Optimized For Aviation Ops]() - [Mockups Of China’s Sharp Sword Stealth Drone Appear Near New Supersized Amphibious Warship]() - [Chinese Loyal Wingman Drone Design Appear Set For Deck Trials]() - [China’s Stealthy GJ-11 ‘Mysterious Dragon’ Soars Out Of The Shadows]() - [China’s Big New Amphibious Assault Ship Just Went To Sea For The First Time]()