China says GJ-21 stealth drone flew from an amphibious ship as US "Fury" takes control from an F-22 pilot

China said on October 30 that its GJ-21 stealth unmanned combat aerial vehicle was launched from and recovered on the Type 076 amphibious assault ship Sichuan, according to the Drone Warfare Intelligence Monthly (DWIM) review. No official imagery was released.

The Type 076 is China's first amphibious ship fitted with an electromagnetic catapult, allowing it to launch fixed-wing aircraft. If confirmed, the claim would give China a platform for unmanned operations at sea without a conventional aircraft carrier.

A pilot hands control to a drone

Meanwhile, according to the same source, a US F-22 pilot passed tactical control to a YFQ-44A Fury drone on October 18, ahead of December's Emerald Flag exercise. The YFQ-44A is one of the contenders in the US Air Force's Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program.

Figures are taken from the DWIM monthly review, which compiles government, military and media reports; some claims have not been independently verified.