China's GJ-21, world's first operational large armed reconnaissance stealth UAV on amphibious assault ship, boasts three core strengths: expert
The airborne unmanned warfare formation attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Photo: Xinhua/Deng Hua)
China's GJ-21 reconnaissance and strike stealth drone recently completed its first successful takeoff and landing aboard the Sichuan, the country's first Type 076 amphibious assault ship, marking a breakthrough in the Chinese Navy's ability to operate fixed-wing stealth drones from large maritime combat platforms, according to the Xinhua News Agency.
The GJ-21 is the Chinese military's first carrier-borne stealth drone integrating reconnaissance and strike capabilities. Its successful takeoff and landing demonstrate the Chinese Navy's capability to launch and recover fixed-wing stealth drones from large maritime combat platforms.
The GJ 21 is the world's first large stealth strike and reconnaissance drone capable of operating from amphibious assault ships. This test marks the world's first catapult launch of a large stealth strike and reconnaissance drone from an amphibious assault ship, Chinese military affairs expert Zhang Xuefeng, told the Global Times on Friday.
Zhang outlined GJ 21's key strengths. First, it boasts outstanding stealth performance. Adopting a flying wing configuration and an S shaped top mounted air intake, the aircraft eliminates strong radar reflection sources and delivers excellent all aspect stealth capability. Its stealth performance is even superior to that of in service stealth fighters.
Suited for striking heavily defended targets, it can serve as a vanguard asset to carry out "door kicking" suppression missions, according to Zhang.
Moreover, GJ 21 has a substantial combat radius. The flying wing design boosts subsonic cruise efficiency. Though its airframe is far smaller than the J 35 and J 20, its combat radius is comparable, said Zhang.
GJ 21 is also low cost and reusable. Unlike hypersonic missiles, it can be recovered and redeployed multiple times. It can also deploy small, low cost glide guided bombs. Under high tempo operations, it offers greater fire delivery efficiency with better cost control.
If GJ 21 is deployed aboard the Type 076 amphibious assault ship, coordination between the Type 076 and aircraft carrier will markedly enhance the carrier strike group's anti surface and land attack capabilities. Furthermore, it can team up with manned fighters for high risk, complex missions such as suppression of enemy air defenses. Manned fighters can clear an aerial corridor while GJ 21 pushes forward to neutralize hostile ground targets and air defense systems, according to Zhang.
The Sichuan, bearing hull number 51, is the first Type 076 amphibious assault ship independently designed, developed and built by China. Launched and named on December 27, 2024, it incorporates a fully automated landing guidance system, a new integrated power system, and electromagnetic catapult and arresting technology. It can carry fixed-wing drones, helicopters and amphibious equipment, according to Xinhua.
Since its first sea trial in November 2025, the Sichuan has steadily conducted sea trials as scheduled, successfully completing equipment and system checks and tests of overall operational stability, per Xinhua.