China launched its first Type 076 new-generation amphibious assault ship, the Sichuan - capable of launching fighter jets and designed to strengthen the navy’s combat ability in distant seas - in Shanghai on Friday.
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 has a full-load displacement of over 40,000 tonnes and features a dual-island superstructure along with a full-length flight deck.
It incorporates innovative electromagnetic catapult and arrestor technologies, enabling it to carry fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and amphibious equipment.
As the new-generation amphibious assault ship of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy, it plays a key role in advancing the Navy's transformation and enhancing its combat capabilities in the far seas, according to Navy officials.
Following its launch, the ship will undergo a series of planned tests, including equipment commissioning, mooring tests, and sea trials.
The Navy has continuously enhanced its capabilities in conducting amphibious combat and multi-dimensional landing operations.
It unveiled its inaugural 075-class amphibious assault ship, the Hainan, in Shanghai back in 2019. The Hainan officially entered service in April 2021. Two more Type 075 amphibious assault ships, the Guangxi and the Anhui, have also commissioned.
China has the largest navy in the world and is consistently trying to upgrade its fleet. Recently, researchers found that the country is working on designing a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, which would allow it to deploy its ships in distant waters without needing a base to refuel.
The U.S. currently has 11 aircraft carriers, all nuclear powered, allowing it to keep multiple strike groups deployed around the world at all times, including in the Asia-Pacific.
Chinese military expert Song Zhongping compared the Sichuan to a “light aircraft carrier,” according to the Global Times.
(Xinhua and AP; Edited by Callan Williamson for The Standard)
