China launches world’s first electromagnetic catapult-equipped amphibious assault ship Type 076
By and Guo Yuandan Published: Dec 27, 2024 10:12 AM
This photo shows China's first Type 076 new-generation amphibious assault ship, the Sichuan. China launched its first Type 076 new-generation amphibious assault ship, the Sichuan, in Shanghai on Friday. Photo: Xinhua
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 electromagnetic catapult and arresting technology, allowing it to launch manned and unmanned combat aircraft in addition to helicopters similar to an aircraft carrier.
China launched its first Type 076 new-generation amphibious assault ship, the Sichuan, in Shanghai on Friday, the Xinhua News Agency reported.
Named after Southwest China's Sichuan Province, the independently-developed new vessel was put into the water at a launch and naming ceremony. It was given the hull number 51.
The Sichuan is a new generation of amphibious assault ship of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy. It is key equipment to promote the transformation and development of the PLA Navy and enhance its far seas combat capability, China Bugle, an official media account affiliated with PLA's news media center, reported on Friday.
It has a full load displacement of more than 40,000 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, according to China Bugle.
After the ship is launched, equipment commissioning, mooring tests, and navigation tests will be carried out as planned, China Bugle reported.
The Type 076 amphibious assault ship is characterized by its large displacement, which is among the top in the world. This means the vessel can carry more weapons and equipment, has longer range and stronger combat capabilities, Zhang Junshe, a Chinese military expert, told the Global Times on Friday.
It is the world's first amphibious assault ship equipped with electromagnetic launching technology. This means it can not only carry helicopters, but also fighter aircraft like the J-15, Zhang said. Electromagnetic launching technology leads to higher launch efficiency and faster launch speed, so the Type 076 has outstanding capabilities in air superiority and land assault missions, he said.
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, Zhang said.
The commissioning of the Type 076 large amphibious assault ship will significantly enhance the PLA Navy's comprehensive combat capability, particularly its abilities in far seas operations and multidimensional long-range landing operations. It will play a great role in safeguarding national sovereignty and maritime rights, Zhang noted.
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.
Another Chinese military expert, Song Zhongping, told the Global Times on Friday 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, he said.
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, Song noted.
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, Song said.
Year of flattops
2024 marked a big year for China's flattops, a term used to describe warships with large flight decks such as aircraft carriers and amphibious assault ships. They are important strategic platforms for China as a major power to defend its national sovereignty, security, territorial integrity and development interests while contributing to peace and stability to the region and the world.
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's 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.
Song said he expects to see tests such as aircraft takeoff and landing as well as integration with other vessels in future sea trials of the Fujian.
The PLA's first and second aircraft carriers, the Liaoning and the Shandong, also had their highlight moments, when they carried out a dual aircraft carrier formation exercise for the first time in the South China Sea, Xinhua quoted the PLA Navy as saying on October 31.
The first dual-carrier exercise is just a beginning. In the future, it will not be just adding more aircraft carriers, as amphibious assault ships could also join the carrier group, Wang Ya'nan, chief editor of Beijing-based Aerospace Knowledge magazine, told the Global Times.
Song also believes that the PLA Navy's amphibious assault capabilities are expected to receive a significant boost with the Type 076, and the new vessel can join China's aircraft carrier groups, substantially enhancing China's far seas attack and control capabilities.
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