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Has China’s GJ-21 stealth attack drone joined sea trials for Type 076 Sichuan?
Photos circulating on social media have sparked speculation that the PLA Navy’s amphibious assault ship has entered a new phase of testing
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Alcott Weiin Beijing
An advanced stealth attack drone may have been photographed on the Chinese navy’s amphibious assault ship Sichuan, possibly marking another step towards the commissioning of the Type 076 naval vessel that is expected to play a key role in the Taiwan Strait.
Photos circulating on Chinese social media since Saturday purportedly show the Sichuan leaving its home port in Shanghai. In one of the images, a carrier-based aircraft draped in green cloth can be seen resting on the deck.
It is unknown when and where the photos were taken of China’s first Type 076 amphibious assault ship, named after the southwestern province of Sichuan and carrying hull number 51.
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The Type 076 is equipped with an electromagnetic catapult system, similar to the technology installed on the Fujian, China’s third and most advanced aircraft carrier, which officially entered service in November last year.
The advanced electromagnetic system enables faster and more frequent launches, and means that aircraft can carry more fuel and ammunition.
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China’s first 076 ‘drone carrier’ amphibious assault ship begins sea trials
China’s first 076 ‘drone carrier’ amphibious assault ship begins sea trials
Some observers suggested that the mysterious covered aircraft in the image could be China’s fixed-wing stealth attack drone, potentially indicating that the Sichuan had entered the large drones testing phase of its sea trials.
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