Stealthy GJ-21 Drone Has Launched And Recovered From Type 076 Amphibious Assault Ship, China Claims

The PLA says a GJ-21 stealth combat drone has launched from and recovered aboard the Type 076 Sichuan, which would make China the first navy to operate fixed-wing stealth UCAVs from a large amphibious platform. If confirmed, it extends persistent strike and reconnaissance reach well beyond the first island chain from a ship class China can build in numbers, complicating Australian and allied maritime surveillance and air defence planning in the South China Sea and approaches to the Coral Sea. The claim is so far unverified by imagery, but preparations for catapult trials aboard Sichuan have been visible for months.