Beijing achieved a naval milestone after the GJ-21 stealth reconnaissance and strike drone completed its initial takeoff and landing aboard the Sichuan. The lead Type 076 amphibious assault ship relies on an electromagnetic catapult and arresting gear to support such fixed-wing unmanned flights. This indigenously developed vessel recently completed late-October sea trials after earlier exercises in the South China Sea. Military analysts emphasize that deploying reusable, bomb-carrying stealth drones from large naval decks provides high-tempo fire delivery without the steep financial costs of expendable hypersonic missiles.
Key points
Chinese naval forces can now successfully launch and recover fixed-wing stealth combat dr…: Chinese naval forces can now successfully launch and recover fixed-wing stealth combat drones from large assault platforms.
The reusable GJ-21 provides low-cost fire delivery and reconnaissance using small glide-g…: The reusable GJ-21 provides low-cost fire delivery and reconnaissance using small glide-guided bombs during high-tempo operations.
The achievement advances Beijing's broader strategic goal of integrating advanced unmanne…: The achievement advances Beijing's broader strategic goal of integrating advanced unmanned platforms alongside modern warships and strike aircraft.
Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1
China's GJ-21 stealth drone has completed its first takeoff and landing on the Sichuan, marking what state media called "a breakthrough in China's amphibious assault ship programme"
BEIJING: China's first carrier-based stealth reconnaissance and strike drone, the GJ-21, recently completed its first takeoff and landing on the Sichuan, the country's first Type 076 amphibious assault ship, state news agency Xinhua reported on Friday (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 last year to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War Two, where it displayed different types of weapons.
State tabloid the Global Times reported on Friday that GJ-21 has a substantial combat radius despite having a smaller airframe than the stealthy J-35…
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