The Sort 076 is transferring quickly in direction of turning into the primary ship with an EMALS catapult to function fight drones, with the GJ-21 presumably being ready for testing.
China’s Sort 076 Touchdown Helicopter Dock (LHD) was just lately noticed with a totally lined collaborative fight plane/unmanned fight aerial car (CCA/UCAV) in visuals that appeared on Jan. 31, 2026. Observers and analysts consider this can be a mock-up of the GJ-21 naval UCAV.
The ship can be captured in a video whereas being pushed into open waters by tugboats on the Hudong-Zhonghua Shipyard in Shanghai, suggesting it is perhaps slated for its second spherical of sea trials quickly. Some social media customers particularly famous that it was leaving the drydock at Hudong.
We are able to additionally see the Sort 075 LHD berthed on the pier on the dock. The Sort 076, which carried out a take a look at of its Electromagnetic Catapult Launch System (EMALS) late in October 2025, set out in its first sea trials in mid-November 2025 “to hold out its first navigation take a look at mission,” the Chinese language army introduced on the time.
Whether or not this can be a subsequent sea voyage stays to be seen, however it’s sure that the large twin-island amphibious assault ship is quickly transferring in direction of being the primary such ship with an EMALS to function drones.
One other one … once more through Syrida2887/SDF pic.twitter.com/wOUEH3qFCf
— @Rupprecht_A (@RupprechtDeino) January 31, 2026
We have no idea if the GJ-21 onboard is a flying instance or a mock-up, a side which can solely be decided solely when the covers are off. Nonetheless, given the PLA Navy’s penchant for training with mockups of each plane and carriers for refining deck dealing with and logistical procedures to assist fast operationalization, it wouldn’t make a lot distinction if it’s a mock-up.
Then again, it has been established past doubt that the GJ-21 is supposed to fly off the Sort 076, and is a matter of ‘when’ and never ‘if’.
GJ-21 on Sort 076
The lined GJ-21 – which main Chinese language army analyst Andreas Rupprecht had beforehand informed The Aviationist may very well be the identify of a naval model of the GJ-11 Sharp Sword UCAV – is parked close to the strict. A significant giveaway of the drone’s identification is the define of the dorsal air consumption being seen when the sheet hugs its physique.
The large bulge on the rear may merely be the unsecured a part of the sheet puffing within the wind, and never a design configuration, which might make it a very completely different plane.
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。 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 primary time, a lowered tail hook is also seen, meant to attach with the arrestor cables whereas touchdown on the Sort 076. Two pitot tubes (flight knowledge probes) had been additionally seen.
That picture nevertheless was not sharp sufficient to indicate the potential presence of underbelly inside weapons bays for a ISR-strike position, provided that elementary strike features are staple throughout all ISR unmanned techniques and vice-versa.
A pleasant image of the lead ships for 075 and 076 courses at dockside (technically “solely ship” within the latter’s case, for now).
By way of wb, Captain小潇 pic.twitter.com/tEQKvtROmE
— Rick Joe (@RickJoe_PLA) January 31, 2026
We had assessed that the GJ-21 is supposed for the Sort 076 to have its personal natural ISR-strike functionality in assist of a potential amphibious touchdown operation on Taiwan. The UCAV would monitor seaside head defenses, infantry, artillery, armored encampments and air protection places that might threaten boots and its tanks on the bottom.
Analysts have lengthy believed the Sort 075 and Sort 076 would have probably the most utility on Taiwan’s jap shores with rougher and uneven waters, that China’s civilian roll-on/roll-over (RoRo) can’t stand up to. The GJ-21’s inside weapons bays may in the meantime take out any such key places if the necessity arises.
Informing unmanned UCAV functionality for PLA Navy aviation
The GJ-21 may additionally function an unmanned surveillance asset for the remainder of the PLA Navy provider fleet, which incorporates the Liaoning, Shandong and Fujian, and its floor combatants. This could rely on what number of GJ-21s the Sort 076 would have the ability to host and function, however it might additionally not be far off to think about that Fujian would possibly function unmanned techniques of its personal.
Because it appears, for the primary time clear pictures of a GJ-21 in flight are posted and this one – based mostly on the nonetheless put in pitots – has its tail hook down. pic.twitter.com/5h1nVZHzIe
— @Rupprecht_A (@RupprechtDeino) November 1, 2025
Given China’s preoccupation with attaining full operational functionality with the J-15T, the specialised digital warfare variant J-15DT, the J-35 and the KJ-600, the Sort 076 may merely serve to validate the mechanical and digital techniques, in addition to operational procedures on the drones to fly off EMALS carriers.
The GJ-21, a brand new model of it, or a very completely different unmanned system altogether, may quickly be built-in on the Fujian if PLA commanders need such a functionality. It should nevertheless be famous that there has thus far been no indication in any idea rendition in state media like CGTN, CCTV, World Instances or Xinhua of the Fujian operation unmanned techniques.
