China launched world’s first electromagnetic catapult and arresting technology equipped amphibious assault ship, the Sichuan in Shanghai on 27th December 2024. A technology, which even world’s most powerful country United States lacks empower Chinese PLA Navy to launch manned and unmanned combat aircraft in addition to helicopters similar to an aircraft carrier.
Shailesh Kumar, National Defence
New Delhi, 27 December 2024
Type o76 amphibious assault ship reportedly has a full load displacement of more than 50,000 tons, is equipped with a double island superstructure and a full longitudinal flight deck, and innovatively applies electromagnetic catapult and arresting technology. It can carry fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters and amphibious equipment.
Watch the launch of China’s Type 076 Amphibious Assault Ship— The Sichuan
The assault ship Sichuan with hull number 51, will give PLA Navy the enhanced combat capabilities in far seas. The type 076 amphibious assault ship with 260 M length and width of about 47 m the full load displacement is likely to be reach more than 50,000 tons, the world’s largest, even larger than the United States Essex class aircraft carrier converted into amphibious assault ship. That means, Chinese amphibious assault ship can carry more weapons and equipment, has longer range and stronger combat capabilities.
The vessel also has excellent amphibious assault capabilities, as it can carry an amphibious combat battalion to quickly reach the target area for landing operations. It has strong comprehensive combat capability, capable of conducting horizontal landing as well as airborne operations. This simply mean, if China happens to launch any offensive against Taiwan in future, the amphibious assault ship will give Chinese military an edge and enhance winnability. With far seas operations and multidimensional long-range landing operations, Chinese may not only have offensive capabilities in South China Sea but also will have an edge over its rivals in Indo-Pacific.
According to Chinese mouthpiece Global Times, as of 2024, the PLA Navy has commissioned three Type 075 amphibious assault ships, the Hainan, the Guangxi and the Anhui. The first Type 075 was launched on September 25, 2019, and commissioned on April 23, 2021. Chinese military experts have been quoted saying that compared with China’s first type of amphibious assault ship, the Type 075, the new Type 076 is larger and can carry more aircraft. It is expected to carry manned and unmanned aerial combat platforms, so it is almost a light aircraft carrier.
The Type 076 amphibious assault ship is a culmination of all the elements, including the radars of destroyers and frigates, the electromagnetic catapult of the aircraft carrier Fujian, and the concept of the Type 075 amphibious assault ship. This type of ship is the first of its kind in the world, which shows that China’s warship design capabilities are improving, making some impossible things possible.
In addition to the launch of the first Type 076 amphibious assault ship, the Sichuan, the PLA Navy’s third aircraft carrier, the Fujian, which is China first warship to utilize the electromagnetic catapult and arresting technology, began the sea trials phase with its maiden voyage on May 1 of this year following its launch on June 17, 2022. It has reportedly conducted several more test voyages since then. Chinese Navy eyes aircraft take off and landing from Sichuan and its integration with other vessels and Fujian.
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