China's New "Drone Carrier" Amphib Test-Launches First Unmanned Fighter

China's military claims to have conducted the first launch and recovery of an unmanned strike fighter from its new class of "drone carrier" amphibs.

The new PLA Navy Type 076 amphib has test-launched and landed a Hongdu GJ-21 unmanned fighter, the PLA said in a statement Monday. It is the final confirmation of analysts' early assessment that the Type 076 was designed to carry an air wing of drones, based on the vessel's smaller overall size and the fitment of provisions for a catapult - a rare choice for a vessel the size of a larger helicopter carrier.

The Shandong's flight deck measures about 850 feet long by 170 feet wide, making it about an acre larger than the U.S. Navy's America-class amphib but far smaller than a full-size aircraft carrier. It has dual elevators, port and starboard, for handling a higher volume of aircraft traffic than the previous-generation Type 075. It also has a well deck at the stern for launch and recovery of landing craft.

The vessel launched in December 2024 and went out on her first sea trials in November 2025. For the last year, the ship - China's second vessel with a high-tech electromagnetic catapult system - has been engaged in "various maritime tests as planned, successfully completing the debugging of various equipment and overall operational stability tests," according to the PLA.

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