An image has emerged that appears to show, for the first time, one of China’s growing series of low-observable combat drones aboard the country’s super-sized Type 076 amphibious assault ship, the Sichuan. The development is in line with previous predictions that this vessel will be capable of supporting high-end aerial drone operations as well as traditional amphibious assaults.
The image in question began to circulate recently online and shows the rear portion of the drone on the deck of the Sichuan, partly obscured by one of the vessel’s twin island superstructures. The characteristic twin, outward-canted tailfins of the drone suggest that this is a navalized version of the design that has been informally dubbed Type C by Chinese aerospace observers. It is part of a collection of aircraft that are considered to be broad Chinese equivalents of the U.S. Air Force’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA).
While the image appears to be genuine, it should be considered at least possible that the drone in question is a mockup. China makes considerable use of aircraft mockups, on land and at sea, to assist with the development and subsequent service introduction of aircraft carriers and assault ships.
The so-called Type C is a subsonic CCA or “loyal wingman”-type drone. Its key features include a swept lambda wing planform, the aforementioned canted tail fins, an internal stores bay, and a single jet engine fed by a dorsal intake. Overall, in terms of configuration, it has some similarities with the U.S.-made XQ-58A Valkyrie, but it is much larger. According to unconfirmed reports, it is said to be optimized for air-to-ground missions, although intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) and electronic warfare would also be likely roles. The Type C is one of at least four new CCA-type drones that were publicly unveiled at the parade celebrating 80 years since the defeat of Japan in World War II, held in Beijing on September 3, 2025.
It would make a good deal of sense for the drone to now be evaluated by the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) onboard the Sichuan. As you can read about here, the first of the Type 076 assault ship left port for its first sea trials last month.
Thanks to its electromagnetically-powered catapult, the 44,000-ton Type 076 is unlike any other big deck amphibious warship in terms of the kind of air wing that it can accommodate, which is expected to be dominated by uncrewed types.
Previously, Type 076’s air wing was expected to include naval versions of the GJ-11 stealthy flying-wing uncrewed combat air vehicle (UCAV), sometimes known as the GJ-21. This theory was supported by apparent GJ-11 mockups that appeared at a test and/or training site right on Changxing Island in Shanghai, very close to where the Type 076 was being built. This may well still be the case, but it now looks like a navalized Type C drone will at least supplement it.
The navalized GJ-11 is expected to operate primarily from China’s true aircraft carriers, including the catapult-equipped Fujian, which was commissioned last month. This carrier is expected to be followed by six more by 2035, according to a Pentagon report, which would provide the PLAN with a total of nine. Recent imagery indicates that China is now progressing with work on its fourth flattop, which is expected to introduce nuclear propulsion.
Returning to the Sichuan, in addition to drones, the warship will accommodate various helicopters, and very likely also a crewed tiltrotor aircraft, which is now in flight testing.
While we don’t yet know whether the Type C has been launched from the Sichuan, there have already been signs of preparations for flight trials. Shortly before the vessel left port for the first time, full markings had been painted on its flight deck, as part of its final fitting out.
Furthermore, as seen in the social media post below, evidence emerged at the end of October showing what looked to be a red-colored catapult test ‘truck’ on Sichuan’s deck. This, in turn, pointed to the start of testing of the ship’s lone catapult.
Again, as we have discussed before, as well as the catapult, the layout of the Type 076 design is heavily focused on sustained flight operations. These features include its unusually wide flight deck and the ship’s two islands. As such, fixed-wing drones can be launched by the catapult at the bow end and recovered via some form of arresting gear.
As TWZ previously wrote about the overall significance of the Sichuan:
“The potential value to the PLAN of having a fleet of very large deck amphibious assault ships that are highly capable of large-scale drone operations as well as traditional amphibious assaults is clear. These ships could be used to launch and recover UCAVs like the GJ-11 and other types of drones to perform a host of missions from maritime strike to intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR). They could be used to provide additional ‘mass’ in support of the operations of larger carrier strike groups and help to free the air wings of flattops like Fujian up for tasks they might be better suited for. In addition, they could provide a lower tier of naval aviation support that could be employed independently.”
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“Simply having more naval aviation capacity overall would give the PLAN added flexibility for various operations closer to the mainland, including a potential military intervention against Taiwan or defending its expansive and largely unrecognized territorial claims in places like the South China Sea. Type 076s could also help project naval and air power further from China’s shores, something that has also been a driving factor behind the country’s broader carrier ambitions.”
Chinese PLA Navy’s First Type 076 Amphibious Assault Ship “Sichuan” Conducts First Sea Trial
It remains to be seen if the PLAN’s current ambitions include introducing the navalized Type C as part of the regular air wing for the Type 076, or whether it is currently being used as part of an evaluation that may lead to a different type of uncrewed aircraft going aboard the warship. By the same token, we don’t yet know if China currently plans to acquire more Type 076s, or if this design is also initially intended more to prove out the concept of super-sized assault ships.
For now, however, the appearance of the Type C, or a mockup thereof, aboard the Sichuan, underscores China’s broader goal of deploying a host of different uncrewed types aboard aviation-capable warships of various kinds.
Contact the author: thomas@thewarzone.com