China’s 40,000-ton warship possibly spotted with advanced stealth attack drone: Report

China’s Type 076 amphibious assault ship, Sichuan, weighing 40,000 tons, has been reportedly spotted carrying an advanced naval stealth attack drone, believed to be the GJ-21—a naval variant of the GJ-11 unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV). The GJ-21 is designed for catapult-assisted takeoff and arrested recovery, enabled by the ship’s electromagnetic launch and recovery systems, marking the first known use of such technology on an amphibious assault ship globally. This positions the Sichuan between traditional helicopter docks and light aircraft carriers in terms of capability, allowing it to operate helicopters, unmanned aerial vehicles, and potentially fixed-wing aircraft. The GJ-21 stealth drone expands the People’s Liberation Army Navy’s long-range strike, surveillance, and naval aviation capabilities and is the first confirmed Chinese uncrewed combat aircraft capable of collaborating with manned fighter jets, as demonstrated by its coordination with the J-20 stealth fighter in PLA Air Force exercises.