Fresh off a long relationship and wanting to keep things low-key, Amanda Chung, 25, said most of the men she had met in San Francisco wanted something serious “even if they aren’t ready for it yet.”
A GJ-21 stealthy flying-wing uncrewed combat air vehicle (UCAV) has successfully launched from and recovered aboard the Type 076 amphibious assault ship Sichuan, according to China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA). Visual confirmation of this milestone has yet to emerge, but there have been steady signs of preparations for flight trials from the Sichuan, which features an electromagnetic catapult. GJ-21s have already been spotted flying from airfields on land.
A picture of a GJ-21 drone that previously emerged online. Chinese internet
The GJ-21 and the land-based GJ-11 Mysterious Dragon it is based on are prime examples of China’s major investments in UCAVs and other flying-wing-type drones. These developments stand in particular contrast to the U.S. military’s eschewing of such designs, at least publicly. This is despite significant past U.S. achievements in this arena, including in the development of carrier-based UCAVs. The PLA Navy (PLAN) now looks to be on track to be the first country to field an operational capability of this kind.
A stock picture of the Type 076 amphibious assault ship Sichuan. PLA
“China’s first ship-borne stealth reconnaissance and attack drone ‘GJ-21’ recently made its first successful take-off and landing on [the Type] 076 amphibious assault ship, the ‘Sichuan’ (Hull 51),” according to a post today from the China Military Bugle account on X, an official PLA mouthpiece. “This is another significant breakthrough in the development of China’s amphibious assault ship, indicating that the Chinese Navy now has the capability to operate fixed-wing stealth drones from large maritime combat platforms.”
At the time of writing, neither the PLA nor Chinese state media have shared where or when these trials occurred or provided any other additional details, including how many total launches and recoveries were conducted. No official pictures or videos from the testing have been released so far.
A graphic that accompanied the post on the China Military Bugle’s account on X regarding the GJ-21 and the Type 076. PLA/China Military Bugle
Unconfirmed claims that a GJ-21 had been launched from Sichuan had already begun circulating on social media earlier this month. As an aside, the GJ-21 is readily discernible from the land-based GJ-11 by the catapult bar on its nose landing gear strut.
Two interesting Type 076 News:
2. Via Temstar/SDF:
"Yankee confirmed on tonight's Chahuahui that 076 has launched a GJ-21. He said it in a very straight forward way too, basically "you guys can stop guessing, I can tell you straight: yes they launched a GJ-21"." pic.twitter.com/ODkl6Kki9A
A review of satellite imagery from Planet Labs does show Sichuan was at its usual berth at Hudong-Zhonghua in Shanghai as of October 13, but absent four days later. When exactly it left port is unclear. The one-of-a-kind Type 076 does not appear to have returned until October 26. TWZ has also obtained a satellite image of Hudong-Zhonghua taken just today from Vantor, with the ship still seen sitting at the pier, as seen at the top of this story and below. GJ-21 drones, or more likely mockups thereof, have also been present on the pier for some time.
A pair of apparent GJ-11 mockups at a test and/or training site on Changxing Island in Shanghai in May 2024, near where the Type 076 was under construction at the time. Google Earth
As mentioned, there have been further signs that the PLA has been preparing Sichuan for real launches and recoveries, especially of GJ-21s, since last year. Pictures emerged online in October 2025 showing a red-colored test ‘truck’ on the ship’s flight deck, indicating the start of catapult testing. Video from those tests has since been released. Weighted trucks like this have long been used to test catapults on aircraft carriers during construction or following maintenance. The Type 076 left port for the first time in November 2025.
“Two GJ-21 aircraft were displayed at the victory parade in September 2025, reportedly having entered PLAN service in mid-2025,” according to Andreas Rupprecht, an expert on Chinese aviation and contributor to TWZ. “By late 2025, several GJ-21 aircraft were reportedly undergoing simulated EMALS launches and arrested landings at the PLAN’s land-based facility at Huangdicun.”
In February of this year, GJ-21 mockups were spotted on Sichuan’s flight deck and riding on the ship’s port-side elevator to the hangar deck as part of what appeared to be deck-handling trials.
After the first Type 076 LHD/LAH "Sichuan" was seen yesterday with a GJ-21 UCAV mock-up on deck, the GJ-21 was seen for the first time with its wings folded and later lowered to the hangar deck on one of the elevators.
More recent satellite imagery had shown that the Type 076’s flight deck had received additional markings in line with progress toward real flight operations. Fittings for three arresting cables also became plainly visible. Those cables are also notably depicted in the graphic that the China Military Bugle shared online today.
The GJ-21 will of course not be the only aircraft in the Type 076’s future air wing. The ship is also expected to carry a variety of other uncrewed aircraft, as well as crewed helicopters. China has shown a range of other combat drone designs in recent years. Navalized versions could well be developed for deployment on Sichuan, as well as PLAN’s growing fleet of traditional carriers and other suitable configured vessels.
Loading the Type 076 with operational UCAVs would only underscore the significance of this particular ship. As we have previously written:
“The potential value to the PLAN of having a fleet of very large deck amphibious assault ships that are highly capable of large-scale drone operations as well as traditional amphibious assaults is clear. These ships could be used to launch and recover UCAVs like the GJ-11 and other types of drones to perform a host of missions from maritime strike to intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR). They could be used to provide additional ‘mass’ in support of the operations of larger carrier strike groups and help to free the air wings of flattops like Fujian up for tasks they might be better suited for. In addition, they could provide a lower tier of naval aviation support that could be employed independently.”
“The Type 076 could help provide support during humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations. Big deck amphibious warfare ships, in general, provide their operators with immensely valuable platforms for projecting both hard and soft power.”
New video out from the People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) of China shows the new GJ-11 stealth drone (UCAV), and also the J-20 stealth fighter firing a live PL-15 air-to-air missile: pic.twitter.com/wraDqyMOht
It is still to be seen how quickly the PLA’s official statement today will be followed by real confirmation of the launching and recovery of a GJ-21 from the Sichuan.
The question of whether men and women can remain "just friends" drew fresh attention when Jenny McCarthy and her husband, Donnie Wahlberg, recently bantered on her podcast about whether having an attractive male friend crosses a line.
Attraction alone doesn’t necessarily threaten a friendship, according to Susan Trombetti, relationship expert and CEO of Exclusive Matchmaking in Maryland.
However, unspoken feelings and growing emotional intimacy can blur boundaries, she told Fox News Digital.
"I think we can be friends with hot people … but a lot of times, I believe that friendship started with a sexual interest or romantic interest, and the timing wasn't right or the other person wasn't interested in them."
Some people may maintain friendships while leaving open the possibility of a future romantic relationship, Trombetti said.
"I don't think women and men can ever truly be friends," she told Fox News Digital. "I think it was always a sexual undertone that sparked the friendship and a foot-in-the-door for something more, [even if] it's 20 years from now."
Trombetti said recognizing that someone is handsome doesn’t necessarily lead to feeling chemistry with that person — and finding a friend attractive does not, on its own, constitute infidelity.
The problem, she said, is when harmless awareness turns into an emotional affair. "The line between attraction with a friend and an emotional affair is a slippery slope, especially if you have a partner," the expert cautioned.
The following red flags could signal that a friendship is crossing into an emotional affair, according to Trombetti.
Prioritizing the friend over a partner: This could mean turning to the friend first to share daily victories, disappointments, personal insecurities or long-term dreams.
Creating an insular universe: Friends may build private jokes, share secret routines and communicate in channels that deliberately exclude significant others.
Secrecy and deception: Examples include hiding interactions, deleting text chains or downplaying how much time is spent together.
Unwarranted jealousy: Signs may include frustration when the friend dates someone else or criticism of their romantic partners.
Outside suspicion: Friends and family may assume the pair are an undercover couple despite protests to the contrary.
Trombetti pointed back to the movie "When Harry Met Sally" to illustrate how emotional intimacy can sometimes be more important than instant physical chemistry.
"Long before they sleep together, they definitely are having an emotional affair, even though they don't recognize it as such," she said. "They are sharing everything. Emotional intimacy turns into long-term relationships."
For those determined to maintain a platonic relationship with an attractive counterpart, Trombetti recommended setting some guardrails: Refrain from flirtatious banter, avoid physical touch, refuse to stoke sexual chemistry, limit late-night texting and ensure full transparency with an existing romantic partner.
If one person develops romantic feelings that the other doesn’t share, the friendship may continue if both are single and respect clear boundaries, Trombetti said.
For people already in committed partnerships, unreciprocated feelings almost always require stepping away to protect the relationship.
"Are they jealous or are you making them jealous?" she asked, noting that erratic partner anxiety often stems from a lack of emotional reassurance and priority.
However, if a friendship respects clear boundaries and a partner still responds with controlling behavior, that jealousy could signal a problem within the relationship, she cautioned.
The author earned a full-ride scholarship to college.
Courtesy of Kelly Strul
I was offered a full-ride scholarship to Florida Atlantic University, and I accepted.
Not having to worry about money helped me explore my passion for dentistry and build a community.
I graduated debt-free, and now I'm going to dental school.
When my phone rang during my senior year of high school, it was Florida Atlantic University calling. I didn't know that answering would change the trajectory of my life.
I had 48 hours to decide whether to take a chance on an opportunity that seemed too good to be true: the opportunity to graduate debt-free.
After a last-minute decision to apply, I was admitted to Florida Atlantic University's Kelly/Strul Emerging Scholars Program, which provides a fully funded, four-year scholarship package.
The moment I received the call, a weight was lifted from both my family and me. College was no longer something my parents and I had to approach with fear about how we would afford it. The people who had spent years sacrificing to give me opportunities could finally watch me step into one without wondering what it would cost our family.
For me, the scholarship meant possibility. For my parents, it meant relief.
I didn't know what I wanted to major in, and some of my dreams still felt too ambitious to seriously pursue. But for the first time, I had the freedom to discover what I was capable of without letting difficult financial circumstances make that decision for me.
So, 48 hours after receiving that phone call, I said yes.
I almost let fear pick my major
When I first arrived at Florida Atlantic University, I didn't declare a major. I was considering studying accounting because numbers came naturally to me, and it seemed like a safe and successful career path.
There was just one problem. I had no passion for it.
I kept getting asked the same question: Why choose what's safe over what I actually wanted? It took time and a lot of encouragement before I realized the answer started with believing I could become more.
Having a full scholarship also changed what felt possible. Without the constant worry of how I would afford my education, I finally gave myself permission to explore the career I had once been too afraid to seriously pursue.
Shadowing a dentist changed everything
I began researching what it actually took to become a dentist and spent the following summer shadowing one. I expected the experience to help me understand the profession, but it did more than that. I fell in love with dentistry.
Even though I was spending hours observing without pay, it never felt like unpaid work. I was fascinated by the combination of science, precision, problem-solving, and human connection involved in dentistry. For the first time, I could clearly picture myself building a career around something that genuinely excited me, and I changed my major to biological sciences.
The financial support from the Kelly/Strul program made that transition possible in ways that went far beyond tuition. I didn't have to rush from class to work every day or take out loans simply to make ends meet. Instead, I had the freedom to study, explore my interests, become involved on campus, and figure out what kind of professional and person I wanted to become.
The scholarship gave me more than financial freedom. It gave me room to grow.
My biggest challenge reminded me of why community mattered
One of the most difficult periods of college came when I began studying for the Dental Admission Test while balancing coursework, leadership positions, and extracurricular commitments.
Without the stress of paying for tuition, housing, and meals, I was able to stay invested in the responsibilities and communities that had shaped my college experience instead of sacrificing them because of financial pressure.
But that season also taught me the importance of community. A men's group I had helped create to encourage and mentor others became the greatest source of encouragement for me. When I needed support, the same people I hoped to uplift were there to uplift me.
Sometimes, the greatest evidence that you have built something meaningful is seeing it carry you when you need help yourself.
I graduated debt-free and headed to dental school
Three years after answering that phone call, I graduated from Florida Atlantic University with my bachelor's degree in biological sciences.
As a first-generation student, I had accomplished something I once struggled to imagine for myself. I graduated in three years, debt-free, and prepared to begin dental school. But the greatest gift of the Kelly/Strul Emerging Scholars Program was not simply leaving college without student debt. It was leaving with a clearer understanding of who I was and what I was capable of becoming.
I entered Florida Atlantic uncertain about my major and hesitant to chase my dreams. I left with a degree, a community, leadership experience, and the confidence to pursue dentistry.
When I received that phone call almost four years ago, I thought I was simply saying yes to a scholarship, but I was really saying yes to a version of myself I hadn't met yet.
Another chapter of my life is calling as I begin dental school. This time, I don't need 48 hours to respond.
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