The US Navy has been committed to developing stealth unmanned attack aircraft that can take off and land from the aircraft carrier deck since the 1990s, in order to expand the range of ocean operations and reduce pilot risks.
The X-47B project was launched in 2007, had its first flight in 2011, and achieved ship ejection and recycling tests in 2013, but by 2015, it was forced to terminate due to budget overspending and technical difficulties and turned to other auxiliary platforms. Although this technology dream has been initially verified, it has not entered the actual deployment stage.
The Chinese Navy has gradually achieved this goal through independent research and development paths, and the emergence of Attack 21 marks the mature application of this technology.
Attack 21 is a ship-based improved version of Attack 11. It made its first public debut in the Victory Day parade on September 3, 2025, leading the drone team, demonstrating that it has practical preparation capabilities. This drone inherits the flying wing layout and large sweep angle design, but has made several optimizations for the aircraft carrier environment.
The wings are equipped with folding hinges at about half of the wingspan, which facilitates storage on the ship. The width after folding is reduced by about 30%, adapting to the lift size of Fujian and Sichuan ships.
This folding mechanism draws on advanced material technology, with narrow hinge gaps and is covered with flexible skin to ensure that stealth performance is not affected. Compared with the folded wings of the X-47B, the attack 21 is lighter in structure, avoiding the loss of efficiency caused by excessive weight.
The tail nozzle design is another highlight of the attack 21. It uses double serrated edges, the outer skin joints and inner tube are serrated, and are painted with high temperature resistant ceramic materials, with infrared signal suppression rate as high as 80%. This is far superior to the simple circular nozzle of attack 11, which has higher infrared exposure.
The power system uses a non-afterburning version of the medium-thrust turbofan engine, with the thrust remaining above 50 kN and a 20% weight reduction, suitable for 10-ton platforms.
From the early afterburner test of the sword verification aircraft, to the stable cruise of attack 11, and then to the ship-based adaptation of attack 21, this power iteration process is gradually improved through ground mounts and wind tunnel tests to ensure the thrust-to-weight ratio of short-range takeoff.
In terms of control surface, attack 21 divides the lifting aileron into two internal and external sections, each section operates independently, the main responsibility of the outer section is rolling, and the inner section assists the pitch, and the flexibility is increased by 25%. This is more suitable for low-speed landing than the single apron of the attack 11, especially on ships, which can accurately adjust the posture and reduce hook wear.
The rudder is extended by 20%, the wing tip is changed to a straight design, parallel to the folding line, providing a larger area of resistance, and the landing distance is shortened to within 200 meters. These improvements have slightly increased the volume of the attack 21, expanded the internal space, compensated for the weight increase caused by the folding structure and anti-corrosion measures, and maintained the range above 1,500 kilometers.
Compared with X-47B, China has chosen a gradual development path. The US project directly targeted 20-ton heavy drones, with the budget expanding from $600 million to 1.5 billion, and was eventually cancelled due to the difficulty of integration.
China started from the 10-ton verification of the sword, accumulating aerodynamic and stealth experience, to the land-based practical combat of the attack 11, and then to the ship-based optimization of the attack 21, with the cost being controlled by one-third of the X-47B.
The attack 21 has stronger omnidirectional stealth performance, large bending angle of the S-shaped intake duct, and the long tail brace completely blocks the nozzle. Combined with double sawtooth, the radar cross-section is as low as 0.005 square meters, surpassing the forward lateral key design of the X-47B.
As a Type 003 aircraft carrier, the Fujian ship has a full load displacement of 80,000 tons and is equipped with three electromagnetic catapult tracks. It was launched in June 2022 and the first sea trial in May 2024. By 2025, six sea trials have been completed, including carrier-based aircraft catapult recovery verification. After carrying the Attack 21, the Fujian ship can send invisible unmanned crowds to take the lead in infiltrating the enemy air defense network, perform ground strikes, destroy airports or radar stations, and compete for air supremacy.
This tactic is similar to the penetration bombing that the United States had imagined, but due to the dismount of the X-47B, the United States lost this ability, and the Chinese Navy enjoyed its own advantage. The built-in bomb bay of the Attack 21 can carry 4 precision missiles, which cooperates with the J-35 manned and aircraft data link to expand the maritime strike chain.
The progress of the Chinese Navy in the field of unmanned combat originates from continuous iteration. The sword verifies the aerodynamic foundation, the attack 11 optimizes the strike module, the attack 21 adapts to ship-based needs, and accelerates the advancement through digital twin technology and wind tunnel testing.
In the material upgrade, the proportion of composite fibers reaches 70%, reducing the risk of corrosion, and the thickness of the ship-based anticorrosion coating increases by 0.5 mm. From imitation to independent engines, the turbofan 13E series has an output of more than 100 units and supports mass production. The control software is integrated with AI assistance, and the autonomous decision-making rate is 90%, far exceeding the semi-autonomous level of X-47B.
The electromagnetic catapult of the Fujian ship and Sichuan ship is compatible with an unmanned platform. The track length is 80 meters, accelerates to 200 kilometers per hour, and attacks 21 folding wings to ensure adaptation.
After carrying, the Fujian ship can operate 30 unmanned aircraft and conduct multiple waves of infiltration; the Sichuan ship combines helicopters to form a hybrid formation to enhance the far-sea delivery force. These capabilities consolidate the control of the Chinese Navy in the Western Pacific and safeguard maritime rights and interests.
The stealth details of attack 21 further enhance its advantages, with uniform skin absorbing materials on the fuselage, and sawing edges reduce scattering. Compared with Attack 11, the wingspan has increased by 1 meter and the load has increased to 2 tons, supporting laser-guided bomb mounting.
At present, the Fujian ship has completed electromagnetic catapult test and is expected to be included in the list by the end of the year; the Sichuan ship is equipped with acceleration and is ready for sea tests and will be put into service in 2026. After the Attack 21 parade, it will be integrated on the ship to enhance the combat power of the formation and safeguard maritime rights and interests.
The Chinese Navy achieved the unfulfilled American dream through attacks 21, marking technical confidence. After the Fujian ship and Sichuan ship are carried, the integrated sea and air combat pattern will be more stable, protecting national interests in the depths of the blue ocean.
