China’s New Drone Carrier Launches, Recovers First Autonomous Combat Aircraft

China's Type 076 amphibious assault ship Sichuan has launched and recovered the GJ-21 stealth strike drone, demonstrating that the vessel's electromagnetic catapult and recovery systems can support fixed-wing uncrewed combat aircraft at sea. This moves the PLA Navy toward fielding carrier-based uncrewed strike and reconnaissance at scale, extending the reach of Chinese surface groups into the South Pacific and Indian Ocean approaches at lower cost and risk than crewed aviation. For Australia, it sharpens requirements for maritime surveillance, counter-UAS defences on surface combatants, and the long-range strike and sensing assumptions underpinning AUKUS and the surface fleet review.