The Type 076 is moving rapidly towards becoming the first ship with an EMALS catapult to operate combat drones, with the GJ-21 possibly being prepared for testing.
China’s Type 076 Landing Helicopter Dock (LHD) was recently spotted with a fully covered collaborative combat aircraft/unmanned combat aerial vehicle (CCA/UCAV) in visuals that appeared on Jan. 31, 2026. Observers and analysts believe this is a mock-up of the GJ-21 naval UCAV.
The ship is also captured in a video while being pushed into open waters by tugboats at the Hudong-Zhonghua Shipyard in Shanghai, suggesting it might be slated for its second round of sea trials soon. Some social media users specifically noted that it was leaving the drydock at Hudong.
We can also see the Type 075 LHD berthed on the pier at the dock. The Type 076, which conducted a test of its Electromagnetic Catapult Launch System (EMALS) late in October 2025, set out in its first sea trials in mid-November 2025 “to carry out its first navigation test mission,” the Chinese military announced at the time.
Whether this is a subsequent sea voyage remains to be seen, but it is certain that the massive twin-island amphibious assault ship is rapidly moving towards being the first such ship with an EMALS to operate drones.
Another one … again via Syrida2887/SDF https://t.co/MpVxNpaJEn pic.twitter.com/wOUEH3qFCf
— @Rupprecht_A (@RupprechtDeino) January 31, 2026
We do not know if the GJ-21 onboard is a flying example or a mock-up, an aspect which will only be determined only when the covers are off. However, given the PLA Navy’s penchant for practicing with mockups of both aircraft and carriers for refining deck handling and logistical procedures to aid rapid operationalization, it wouldn’t make much difference if it is a mock-up.
On the other hand, it has been established beyond doubt that the GJ-21 is meant to fly off the Type 076, and is a matter of ‘when’ and not ‘if’.
GJ-21 on Type 076
The covered GJ-21 – which leading Chinese military analyst Andreas Rupprecht had previously told The Aviationist could be the name of a naval version of the GJ-11 Sharp Sword UCAV – is parked near the stern. A major giveaway of the drone’s identity is the outline of the dorsal air intake being visible when the sheet hugs its body.
The massive bulge at the rear could simply be the unsecured part of the sheet puffing in the wind, and not a design configuration, which would make it a completely different aircraft.
076型強襲揚陸艦”四川”飛行甲板上にGJ-21ステルス艦載UCAVを確認。 https://t.co/g1OwJBp4Oc pic.twitter.com/K1azsc3FEP
— お砂糖wsnbn (@sugar_wsnbn) January 31, 2026
In November 2025, when the GJ-21 was captured flying overhead the first time, a lowered tail hook could also be seen, meant to connect with the arrestor cables while landing on the Type 076. Two pitot tubes (flight data probes) were also visible.
That image however was not sharp enough to show the possible presence of underbelly internal weapons bays for a ISR-strike role, given that elementary strike functions are staple across all ISR unmanned systems and vice-versa.
A nice picture of the lead ships for 075 and 076 classes at dockside (technically “only ship” in the latter’s case, for now).
Via wb, Captain小潇 pic.twitter.com/tEQKvtROmE
— Rick Joe (@RickJoe_PLA) January 31, 2026
We had assessed that the GJ-21 is meant for the Type 076 to have its own organic ISR-strike capability in support of a possible amphibious landing operation on Taiwan. The UCAV would monitor beach head defenses, infantry, artillery, armored encampments and air defense locations that would threaten boots and its tanks on the ground.
Analysts have long believed the Type 075 and Type 076 would have the most utility on Taiwan’s eastern shores with rougher and choppy waters, that China’s civilian roll-on/roll-over (RoRo) cannot withstand. The GJ-21’s internal weapons bays could meanwhile take out any such key locations if the need arises.
Informing unmanned UCAV capability for PLA Navy aviation
The GJ-21 could also serve as an unmanned surveillance asset for the rest of the PLA Navy carrier fleet, which includes the Liaoning, Shandong and Fujian, and its surface combatants. This would depend upon how many GJ-21s the Type 076 would be able to host and operate, but it would also not be far off to imagine that Fujian might operate unmanned systems of its own.
As it seems, for the first time clear images of a GJ-21 in flight are posted and this one – based on the still installed pitots – has its tail hook down. pic.twitter.com/5h1nVZHzIe
— @Rupprecht_A (@RupprechtDeino) November 1, 2025
Given China’s preoccupation with attaining full operational capability with the J-15T, the specialized electronic warfare variant J-15DT, the J-35 and the KJ-600, the Type 076 could simply serve to validate the mechanical and electronic systems, as well as operational procedures on the drones to fly off EMALS carriers.
The GJ-21, a new version of it, or a totally different unmanned system altogether, could rapidly be integrated on the Fujian if PLA commanders want such a capability. It must however be noted that there has so far been no indication in any concept rendition in state media like CGTN, CCTV, Global Times or Xinhua of the Fujian operation unmanned systems.
