Social media clips show naval combat drone over Liaoning province while Beijing’s catapult-equipped drone carrier prepares for deployment
2-MIN READ2-MINAlbee Zhangin ShanghaiPublished: 12:00pm, 29 Aug 2026China’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.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. 01:29China’s first 076 ‘drone carrier’ amphibious assault ship begins sea trialsA 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.
