China Launches Advanced Type 076 Amphibious Assault Ship 'Sichuan'

The 40,000-ton vessel, equipped with electromagnetic catapult technology, represents a major step in China's naval modernization and power projection capabilities.

• The Sichuan, China's first Type 076 amphibious assault ship, was launched during a ceremony in Shanghai, featuring a dual-island design and a full-length flight deck.
• It is the first amphibious assault ship globally to incorporate an electromagnetic catapult system, enabling the launch of fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
• The ship is designed to deploy ground troops via landing craft and provide air support, with advanced arrestor technology allowing fighter jets to land on its deck.
• Experts view the Type 076 as a hybrid between amphibious assault ships and light aircraft carriers, expanding China's blue-water naval capabilities far from its shores.
• The launch highlights China's rapid naval expansion, with the world's largest navy by hull count, and underscores its ambitions in contested waters such as the South China Sea and beyond.

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