China launches Type 076 next-generation amphibious assault vessel
Products & Services
Shephard Plus Update
Shephard Media
Shephard Plus is updating in June 2018 with rich new capabilities, and is now one of the most cost-effective and valuable aerospace and defence market intell...
Military Unmanned Systems Handbook
Shephard Media
The Military Unmanned Systems Handbook (Digital Download) is an international guide to the military UV industry and provides detailed information on air, ground and sea (surface & sub-sea) vehicles as well as subsystems. What's included: Unencrypted 390+ page PDF of equipment and supplier information Market summary
Defence Insight
Shephard Media
Some of the things people like you use Defence Insight for:
- Total addressable market sizing ($)
- Competitor analysis
- Cost analysis
- Market forecasting
- Growth identification
- Increasing closing ratio
- Increasing closing order value
- Estimating product potential
- Calculating sales forecasting
- Supply and demand analysis
- Total addressable market sizing ($)
- Competitor analysis
- Cost analysis
- Market forecasting
- Growth identification
- Increasing closing ratio
- Increasing closing order value
- Estimating product potential
- Calculating sales forecasting
- Supply and demand analysis
Description
China has launched the first of its next-generation amphibious assault ships, the Type 076, at a shipyard in Shanghai.
The Sichuan has been independently developed, and the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) has described it as a “key asset” in the strategy of transforming the country's long-range naval capabilities.
China already has the world's largest naval force, but has now set itself the goal of increasing its force projection significantly beyond its shores, catching up with the US Navy (USN). The Sichuan is intended to be a significant plank in that strategy, and a marker by which the PLAN can steer the rapid development of its force projection capabilities.
Related Articles
How bad management could put the US Navy's cruiser fleet far behind Chinese capabilities
Fully loaded, the Sichuan will displace more than 40,000 tons, which will make it one of the world's largest amphibious assault ships. The PLAN said it will feature a twin-island superstructure and a full-length flight deck.
It will also use the electromagnetic catapult system, allowing it to carry fixed-wing aircraft as well as the more usual complement of helicopters and amphibious craft common to similar assault ships.
That catapult system will mean the aircraft it can carry will themselves be able to carry more fuel, and so extend the force projection of the vessel even further.
In terms of the growing naval arms race between China and the US, only one other vessel in the world uses the electromagnetic catapult system, and that is the USN's newest aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R Ford. Employing the system on the Sichuan will allow China to claim naval equality with the US, at least on that front.
However, China's newest aircraft carrier, the Fujian, will also come equipped with the catapult system - and that vessel is already in sea trials.
Related Programmes in Defence Insight
Type 003
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
Type 003
Gerald R. Ford Class
The Sichuan has been independently developed, and the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) has described it as a “key asset” in the strategy of transforming the country's long-range naval capabilities.
China already has the world's largest naval force, but has now set itself the goal of increasing its force projection significantly beyond its shores, catching up with the US Navy (USN). The Sichuan is intended to be a significant plank in that strategy, and a marker by which the PLAN can steer the rapid development of its force projection capabilities.
Related Articles
How bad management could put the US Navy's cruiser fleet far behind Chinese capabilities
Fully loaded, the Sichuan will displace more than 40,000 tons, which will make it one of the world's largest amphibious assault ships. The PLAN said it will feature a twin-island superstructure and a full-length flight deck.
It will also use the electromagnetic catapult system, allowing it to carry fixed-wing aircraft as well as the more usual complement of helicopters and amphibious craft common to similar assault ships.
That catapult system will mean the aircraft it can carry will themselves be able to carry more fuel, and so extend the force projection of the vessel even further.
In terms of the growing naval arms race between China and the US, only one other vessel in the world uses the electromagnetic catapult system, and that is the USN's newest aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R Ford. Employing the system on the Sichuan will allow China to claim naval equality with the US, at least on that front.
However, China's newest aircraft carrier, the Fujian, will also come equipped with the catapult system - and that vessel is already in sea trials.
Related Programmes in Defence Insight
Type 003
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
Type 003
Gerald R. Ford Class
