{
  "id": 4099887,
  "title": "China tests GJ-21 stealth drone as Sichuan Type 076 warship carries out sea trials",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/29/china-tests-gj-21-stealth-drone-as-sichuan-type-076-warship-carries",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-29T04:00:16.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "South China Morning Post",
    "slug": "south-china-morning-post",
    "url": "https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3365654/china-tests-gj-21-stealth-drone-sichuan-type-076-warship-carries-out-sea-trials"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "China's GJ-21 stealth attack drone has been tested in recent months, as the country's first Type 076 amphibious assault ship – the Sichuan vessel – undergoes its final sea trials. The GJ-21, a naval variant of the GJ-11 stealth attack drone, was first showcased at China's Victory Day parade in September last year and has since made sporadic public appearances. Computer-generated footage aired by state broadcaster CCTV in July demonstrated how the GJ-21 would be launched from the Type 076, which is also the world's first drone carrier. Social media posts on Thursday showed the GJ-21 flying over a highway service area in Huludao, Liaoning province, and again on August 19 from a different angle. The drone was also captured in a third video, filmed from yet another angle. CCTV quoted an expert in July, stating that the 40,000-tonne Sichuan drone carrier had entered its final testing phase. The PLA Navy is anticipated to receive the warship by the end of the year. Early in the month, CCTV footage revealed the Sichuan deploying decoys and launching a test vehicle using its electromagnetic aircraft-launch system. Capable of launching both manned and unmanned fixed-wing aircraft, including the GJ-21 drone, as well as helicopters, the Sichuan is the sole amphibious assault ship worldwide equipped with an electromagnetic catapult system. The vessel, with a full-load displacement surpassing 40,000 tonnes, is designed to transport landing craft, troops, armored vehicles, and aircraft to bolster amphibious operations. Beijing considers Taiwan an integral part of China and has not dismissed the use of force to reunify the island. Recent military and political pressure on Taiwan has intensified since cross-strait tensions escalated approximately four years ago. While most nations, such as the United States, do not recognize the self-ruled island as independent, Washington refuses to support any attempt to take Taiwan by force and is committed to providing military support to the island.",
  "summary": "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.…",
  "key_points": [
    "China tests GJ-21 stealth drone for naval use",
    "Sichuan Type 076 warship conducts final sea trials",
    "Sichuan is world's first drone carrier with electromagnetic catapult"
  ],
  "editors_take": "China's test of the GJ-21 stealth drone and the Type 076 warship's sea trials signal a strengthening of China's amphibious capabilities, bolstering its military pressure on Taiwan.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Reuters Business via SCMP",
        "title": "China tests GJ-21 stealth drone as Sichuan Type 076 warship carries out sea trials",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/29/china-tests-gj-21-stealth-drone-as-sichuan-type-076-warship-carries-4104303",
        "published": "2026-08-29T04:00:16.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}