China Says Stealth Drone Flew From Type 076 Ship Sichuan

A carrier technology on an amphibious ship

The Sichuan is the first Type 076 amphibious assault ship, hull number 51. Vessels of this kind are traditionally built to carry troops, helicopters and landing craft. The Sichuan adds a large flight deck, a hangar, elevators, an electromagnetic catapult and arresting wires, which allow fixed-wing aircraft to be launched and recovered, a role usually tied to aircraft carriers.

The ship was launched on 27 December 2024 and began sea trials in November 2025. Test vehicles, GJ-21 mock-ups and markings for three arresting wires appeared in imagery over recent months, pointing to gradual preparation for fixed-wing drone operations.

The GJ-21 is a naval variant of the GJ-11 "Mysterious Dragon", a flying-wing unmanned combat aircraft without conventional tail surfaces, designed to reduce its radar signature. The shipborne version has a launch bar on the nose landing gear for catapult use. Its full performance figures are not public.

Why it matters

The significance lies less in rivalling a US supercarrier than in multiplying the platforms from which China can fly combat aircraft. Spreading drones across amphibious ships and carriers such as the Fujian would complicate surveillance, defensive planning and targeting for US forces, especially in a crisis around Taiwan or in the South China Sea.

The US Navy once demonstrated advanced launch and recovery technology for unmanned aircraft but prioritised the MQ-25 Stingray, designed mainly for aerial refuelling. If China turns these trials into routine operations, it could get ahead in fielding shipborne stealth combat drones.

Key questions remain open: how many GJ-21s the Sichuan can carry, how often it can launch them, what weapons they would use and how they would fit into the wider fleet. The announcement shows the direction of China's bet, not proof of sustained combat readiness.