The Chinese navy, which is the largest in the world by hull count, launched its first new-generation amphibious assault ship on Friday, equipped with an advanced catapult system that—similar to an aircraft carrier—supports the flight operations of fixed-wing aircraft.
Why It Matters
Last week, prior to the launch of CNS Sichuan—a Type 076 amphibious assault ship named after the southwestern province in China—the U.S. Department of Defense released its annual report on China's military power.
According to the report, China has more than 370 naval ships and submarines, including three Type 075 amphibious assault ships that precede the Type 076. It said the Chinese navy "continues to develop into a global force, gradually extending its operational reach beyond East Asia" and seeking to operate at greater distances from mainland China.
Newsweek has contacted the Chinese Defense Ministry for comment by email.
What To Know
The Sichuan's launch and naming ceremony was held at a shipyard in Shanghai, Xinhua News Agency reported. The ship has a full load displacement of more than 40,000 tons, slightly lighter than the newest American amphibious assault ship, the 44,000-ton America class.
However, satellite imagery indicated that the Type 076, which measured 853 feet long, is longer than the 844-foot-long America class, according to a report prepared in August by the China Power Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
A new feature of the Type 076 is the double island superstructure on the flight deck, also known as the "island," which contains the control center. Each island can be dedicated and optimized for one task only—ship navigation or flight operations, according to the War Zone, a defense news and analysis website.
Another feature of the new Chinese warship is the electromagnetic catapult and arresting system for fixed-wing aircraft deployed aboard, making it the world's first amphibious assault ship equipped with this advanced aircraft launching and recovering technology, the Global Times reported.
The Chinese aircraft carrier CNS Fujian and the American Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carriers adopt the same aircraft launching system as the Type 076. The system is capable of expanding operational capability with increased aircraft sortie rates.
While the America class does not have any catapults for launching fixed-wing aircraft, the F-35B stealth fighter jet can be based on the ship thanks to its short takeoff and vertical landing capability, enabling it to be operated from ships with small and short flight decks.
Xinhua reported that the Type 076 can carry fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters. However, the Pentagon assessed in its report that the ship can launch large maritime unmanned aerial vehicles for strike, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions.
What People Are Saying
Xinhua News Agency said in its report on Friday: "It [Type 076] is a new generation of amphibious assault ship for the [Chinese] navy and a key equipment for promoting the transformation and development of the navy and enhancing its far sea combat capabilities."
The Pentagon said in its report on Chinese military power on December 18: "An even larger expeditionary ship, the YULAN LHA (Type 076) is expected to join the [Chinese] fleet in the second half of the decade and provide additional sea control via catapult-launched UAVs."
What Happens Next
It remains to be seen when the Type 076 will conduct its first sea trial and what kind of fixed-wing aircraft will be operated from it. A Chinese military expert told the Global Times that the ship may be capable of carrying aircraft-carrier-based fighter jets.
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