This Friday, China presented a new amphibious assault ship, capable of launching combat jets; and designed to strengthen the navy’s capabilities in distant seas.
O Sichuanthe first Type 076 ship and China’s largest military vessel to date, at 40,000 tons, is equipped with an electromagnetic catapult that will allow launching fighters directly from the deck.
According to the official Chinese news agency Xinhua, the ship was designed to launch ground troops onto landing craft and provide them with air support.
Developed by Chinese researchers, Sichuan is also equipped with technology that allows fighters land on the deck.
WATCH: China’s first Type 076 amphibious assault ship, the Sichuan, is launched, featuring groundbreaking electromagnetic catapult and arresting technology. (Video: CCTV)
— Global Times (@globaltimesnews)
China’s first amphibious assault ships, the Type 075, were launched in 2019.
The Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy – the biggest in the world – has been working on modernizing its forces for more than a decade, with the aim of being able to operate globally instead of being restricted to waters close to the Chinese mainland.
China was able to launch fighters with new electromagnetic technology for the first time on its domestically-made aircraft carrier, the Fujian, two years ago.
Quoted by the official Chinese newspaper Global Times, military expert Song Zhongping compared Sichuan to a “light aircraft carrier”.
Recently, researchers claimed that the country is developing a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, which would allow it to travel to distant waters without needing a base to refuel.
Currently, the United States has 11 aircraft carriers, all nuclear-powered, allowing them to maintain multiple strike groups around the world, including in the Asia-Pacific region.
