31st October 2026 – (Beijing) China’s first Type 076 amphibious assault ship, Sichuan, has successfully conducted the inaugural launch and recovery of a carrier‑borne stealth reconnaissance‑strike unmanned aircraft known as Attack‑21 during a series of sea trials in late October. The milestone is described as a further breakthrough in the development of China’s amphibious assault fleet and an indication that the navy now possesses the ability to operate fixed‑wing stealth drones from large maritime combat platforms.
Sichuan, bearing hull number 51, is the lead ship of the Type 076 class designed and built domestically and was launched and named on 27th December 2024. The vessel incorporates an automatic landing guidance system, a new integrated electric‑power system, and electromagnetic catapult and arresting technologies, enabling operations with fixed‑wing unmanned aircraft, helicopters and amphibious equipment.
Since beginning initial sea trials in November 2025, the ship has progressed according to plan through a succession of at‑sea experiments, completing equipment calibrations and wider stability testing. The latest trials, culminating in the Attack‑21’s first successful deck operations, mark a significant step towards full operational capability.