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

By South China Morning Post | Created at 2026-08-29 04:06:35 | Updated at 2026-08-29 05:04:00 1 hour ago

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.

China’s first 076 ‘drone carrier’ amphibious assault ship begins sea trials

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.

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