China’s 40,000-Ton Drone Carrier Enters Final Trials As GJ-21 Stealth Drone Reappears

China’s new Type 076 amphibious assault ship, the Sichuan, has entered its final sea trials.

The Sichuan weighs more than 40,000 tonnes when fully loaded. It can carry troops, landing craft, aircraft and armoured vehicles.

The ship is fitted with an electromagnetic aircraft-launch system that could allow it to launch fixed-wing drones such as the GJ-21.

The GJ-21 is the naval version of China’s GJ-11 stealth attack drone. It was first shown publicly during China’s Victory Day parade in September 2025 and has only been seen publicly a few times since then.

A video posted on Chinese social media on Thursday showed the GJ-21 flying over a highway service area in Huludao, in northeastern China’s Liaoning province, according to the South China Morning Post.

Another video posted on Aug. 19 showed the drone flying over the same service centre from a different direction. A third video posted on Thursday showed it again from another angle.

China’s state broadcaster CCTV reported in July that the ship had entered its final testing phase. The PLA Navy is expected to receive the ship by the end of this year.

Most of the amphibious assault ships mainly operate aircraft and helicopters that can take off vertically or over short distances, such as the F-35B.

The Sichuan, however, has an electromagnetic catapult on its flight deck. The system is similar to the one used on the U.S. Navy’s Ford-class aircraft carriers.

The catapult could allow the ship to launch fixed-wing aircraft that cannot take off vertically, including large drones such as the GJ-21.

In July, CCTV showed computer-generated footage of the GJ-21 being launched from the Sichuan. Earlier this month, CCTV also showed the ship launching a red test vehicle using the system.

The Sichuan is expected to operate crewed and uncrewed fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters.

It has been described as the world’s first drone carrier and is the only amphibious assault ship fitted with an electromagnetic catapult system.

Other CCTV footage showed markings on the ship’s deck and the vessel deploying decoys during testing.

Satellite images shared on Thursday by X user MT Anderson appeared to show the Sichuan with two Type 052 destroyers and three Type 054 frigates near the Qingdao naval base on Aug. 25.

Qingdao is the headquarters of the PLA Northern Theatre Command navy.

The image, which the South China Morning Post said it could not independently verify, also appeared to show China’s first aircraft carrier, the Liaoning, nearby.

It was not clear why the ships were gathered in the area.

References: interestingengineering, scmp