China Unveils First Type 076 Amphibious Assault Ship

China unveiled its first Type 076 amphibious assault ship, the Sichuan, in Shanghai on December 27, 2024. This advanced vessel is fitted with an electromagnetic catapult system, allowing it to launch both manned and unmanned combat aircraft, as well as helicopters, directly from its deck.

This ship is built to deploy ground troops using landing crafts while providing them with air support. It also features “arrestor technology,” allowing fighter jets to land on its deck.

China on Friday launched its first Type 076 amphibious assault ship, a type of large vessel an expert said is the first of its kind in the world equipped with an electromagnetic catapult and arresting technology, allowing it to launch manned and unmanned combat aircraft in addition… pic.twitter.com/h6XDKXeuzs

— Global Times (@globaltimesnews) December 27, 2024

The Type 075, China’s first amphibious assault ship, was launched in 2019. For over a decade, China’s People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) has been modernizing its forces to operate globally, rather than just in waters near the Chinese mainland. This new technology was first used on China’s indigenous aircraft carrier, the Fujian, which launched two years ago.

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Chinese military expert Song Zhongping described the Sichuan as a “light aircraft carrier,” according to the Global Times.

The ship will undergo further testing, including sea trials. China now has the world’s largest navy and continues to upgrade its fleet.

Research indicates that China is also developing a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, which would allow ships to operate in distant waters without needing to return to base for refueling.

The U.S. currently operates 11 nuclear-powered aircraft carriers, maintaining multiple strike groups deployed worldwide, including in the Asia-Pacific region.