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Albee Zhang

China’s GJ-21 large stealth attack drone has been spotted on flight tests this month, as the country’s first Type 076 amphibious assault ship – the vessel that will launch the drone – enters its final sea trials.
The GJ-21, the naval variant of the GJ-11 stealth attack drone, first appeared at China’s Victory Day parade in September last year and has made rare public appearances since then.
Computer-generated footage aired by state broadcaster CCTV in July showed how it would be launched from the Type 076 Sichuan – China’s most advanced amphibious assault ship and the world’s first drone carrier.


A Chinese social media post on Thursday showed the GJ-21 flying over a highway service area in the northeastern Chinese city of Huludao in Liaoning province.
Another post dated August 19 had shown the GJ-21 flying over the same service centre, although from a different direction.
The two videos, which the South China Morning Post has geolocated, appear to be flight tests of the GJ-21. However, it is not clear when they took place.
The drone was also spotted in a third video posted online on Thursday that showed the GJ-21 flying at a different angle from the first video.
In its July broadcast, CCTV quoted an expert who said the 40,000-tonne Sichuan drone carrier had entered its final testing phase. The PLA Navy is expected to take delivery of the warship by the end of this year.
The vessel was seen with deck-line markings and deploying decoys in other CCTV footage. Early this month, further CCTV footage showed it launching a red test vehicle using its electromagnetic aircraft-launch system.
As the only amphibious assault ship in the world equipped with an electromagnetic catapult system, the Sichuan is expected to launch crewed and uncrewed fixed-wing aircraft, including the GJ-21 drone, as well as helicopters.
Also on Thursday, satellite imagery shared by X user MT Anderson appeared to show the Sichuan – alongside two Type 052 destroyers and three Type 054 frigates – pictured on August 25 just off the Qingdao naval base, the headquarters of the PLA’s Northern Theatre Command navy.
The image, which the SCMP has not independently verified, also showed the Liaoning – China’s first aircraft carrier – moored at the pier. It is not clear whether the vessels were there for trials with the Sichuan.




With a full-load displacement exceeding 40,000 tonnes, the Sichuan is designed to transport landing craft, troops, armoured vehicles and aircraft to support amphibious operations, and expected to be one of Beijing’s most important assets in any potential conflict with Taiwan.
Beijing views Taiwan as part of China and has not ruled out the use of force to achieve reunification. It has also stepped up military and political pressure on the island since cross-strait tensions escalated some four years ago.
Most countries, including the United States, Taiwan’s main international backer, do not recognise the self-ruled island as an independent state. However, Washington is opposed to any attempt to take Taiwan by force and is committed to supplying it with weapons.


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Social media clips show naval combat drone over Liaoning province while Beijing’s catapult-equipped drone carrier prepares for deployment


Social media clips show naval combat drone over Liaoning province while Beijing’s catapult-equipped drone carrier prepares for deployment.


China tests GJ-21 stealth drone as Sichuan Type 076 warship carries out sea trials

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Social media clips show naval combat drone over Liaoning province while Beijing’s catapult-equipped drone carrier prepares for deployment

Social media clips show naval combat drone over Liaoning province while Beijing’s catapult-equipped drone carrier prepares for deployment