China Unveils World's Largest Amphibious Assault Ship

China launched the Type 076 new-generation amphibious assault ship on Friday, marking a significant step in its naval modernization efforts, state-run Xinhua News Agency reported. Named Sichuan, after the southwestern Chinese province, the vessel is equipped with advanced electromagnetic catapult and arresting technology similar to that found on aircraft carriers.

With a full-load displacement of more than 40,000 tons and a 260-meter flight deck, the Sichuan (hull number 51) is believed to be the largest amphibious assault ship in the world. Its flight deck spans 13,500 square meters, nearly the size of three U.S. football fields, enabling the launch of helicopters, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and light fixed-wing aircraft using its catapult system.

According to Zhang Junshe, a Chinese military expert, the Type 076 offers longer range, increased capacity, and enhanced combat capabilities compared to its predecessor, the Type 075. Chinese navy officials stated the ship would play "a key role in advancing the navy’s transformation and enhancing its combat capabilities in the far seas."

Known by its NATO reporting name, the Yulan-class landing helicopter assault ship, the Type 076 is considered a multifunctional combat platform capable of conducting air operations, amphibious landings, and joint command and control. Analysts at the U.S. Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) describe it as a significant advancement in the People’s Liberation Army Navy's (PLAN) ability to project power beyond China’s shores.

The vessel’s electromagnetic catapult, similar to that of U.S. Ford-class aircraft carriers, allows it to launch larger, heavier aircraft with greater payloads. The ship is capable of carrying combat and reconnaissance drones, helicopters, and fighter jets such as the Shenyang J-15.

CSIS researchers highlighted that while the Type 076 will not fundamentally alter the military balance in the Indo-Pacific, it will provide the PLA with enhanced options for projecting combat power in regions such as the Western Pacific and the South China Sea.

China’s navy, the largest in the world by vessel count, boasts 234 ships compared to the U.S. Navy’s 219. Chinese shipyards are also more productive and its fleet newer, although the U.S. Navy maintains an edge in guided missile cruisers, destroyers, and submarine capabilities.

The Type 076 will now undergo mooring and navigation tests, as well as equipment commissioning, before becoming fully operational.