"Attack-21" Successfully Takes Off and Lands on Sichuan Ship: Experts Analyze Three Major Advantages

[Global Times - Global Network Report by Reporter Guo Yuandan] Xinhua News Agency reported on October 30 that the PLA's first shipborne reconnaissance-strike integrated stealth drone, the Attack-21, has successfully taken off and landed on China's first 076 amphibious assault ship, the Sichuan. Military experts interviewed by the Global Times stated that the "Attack-21" is the world's first operational large reconnaissance-strike integrated stealth drone that can be used on amphibious assault ships. This type of drone has three major advantages, allowing it to work in coordination with the 076 amphibious assault ship to enhance strike capabilities.

"The Attack-21 is the world's first large reconnaissance-strike integrated stealth drone that can be used on amphibious assault ships. This ejection test is also the first time globally that a large reconnaissance-strike drone has completed an ejection takeoff from an amphibious assault ship," military expert Zhang Xuefeng told the Global Times on the 30th. He noted that the "Attack-21" has three major advantages: first, outstanding stealth performance. The drone employs a flying wing design and S-shaped dorsal air intake, eliminating strong radar reflection sources and exhibiting excellent omnidirectional stealth capabilities, even outperforming current stealth fighter jets in terms of stealth effectiveness, making it suitable for striking well-defended targets and capable of executing "door-kicking" missions as the first wave of assault forces. Second, it has a large operational radius. The flying wing design enhances subsonic cruising efficiency; although the drone's dimensions are much smaller than those of the J-35 and J-20, its operational radius is not inferior. Third, it has low operating costs and is reusable. Compared to hypersonic missiles, this drone can be recovered and reused multiple times, and it can also deploy small, low-cost glide-guided bombs, resulting in higher firepower delivery efficiency and more controllable costs under high-frequency operational conditions.

This military expert further analyzed that the 076 amphibious assault ship can work in coordination with aircraft carriers. If this type of attack drone is equipped on the 076 amphibious assault ship, it will significantly enhance the strike capabilities of carrier battle groups against both sea and land targets. Additionally, this drone can also be grouped with manned aircraft to collaboratively execute high-risk complex missions, such as implementing air defense suppression, where manned aircraft open up air corridors while the drone advances to suppress enemy ground targets and air defense systems.