China brings new amphibious attack ship in competition with US military

China brings new amphibious attack ship in competition with US military

China has let his first amphibious attack ship of the next generation into the water and thus added a powerful and modern warship to its rapidly growing marine. This is done in the context of the endeavor to attract the military strength of the United States.

The type 076 amphibious attack ships

The amphibious attack ship Type 076 was baptized on Friday during a solemn ceremony in a shipyard in Shanghai, such as the Volksfreundungsarmee Marine (plan) in a communication explained. The ship bears the name Sichuan, based on a Southwest Chinese province and is considered a "key resource" for the further development of the Navy and to improve its skills for long -term missions.

China's marine on the advance

With a fully loaded displacement of over 40,000 tons, type 076 is one of the largest amphibian attack ships worldwide. It has a twin island-super structure and a continuous flight deck. Particularly noteworthy is the electromagnetic catapult system, which enables the ship to transport both a fixed wing as well as helicopter and amphibian equipment, as the plan continues.

the most modern technologies for more reach

The electromagnetic catapult system will enable type 076 to start larger and heavier aircraft than before. This means that the aircraft can carry more fuel - which increases their range and that of the ship as a combat unit - as well as more bombs or rockets. This increases the fireplace of the aircraft considerably.

comparison with US ships

only another operating ship worldwide, the latest US Navy aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford, also uses the electromagnetic catapult system. The new aircraft carrier China, the Fujian, which is currently in the test phase, will probably also be equipped with an electromagnetic system.

unmanned systems in focus

The US Navy's amphibious attack ships are designed for the use of the F-35B, a short start and vertical landing version of the stealth fighting aircraft. As far as is known, the PLA Navy does not have a manned equivalent to the F-35B, which is why it could possibly use the same wing as the Fujian.

A report by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) from this year mentioned that type 076 could be used as a massive platform for drones. "If it is limited to unmanned systems, the air force of type 076 will be very powerful. China has about the advanced and growing arsenal, including the GJ-11 Stealth-Kampf drone, the WZ-7 reconnaissance drone and the CASC Rainbow Schlag-Uav, among other things, ”says the report, which is based on satellite images of the ship under construction.

expected functions and skills

With regard to the further skills of type 076, the CSIS report expects helicopter and amphibian landing vehicles that are able to deduct more than 1,000 marines. Due to its size, the ship should be able to transport more of everything than China's smaller type 075 amphibian attack ships, the amphibian attack ships of the America class of the US Navy and Japan's Izumo class helicopter carriers that are converted to be able to carry the F-35B.

strategic importance of type 076

Carl Schuster, a military analyst and former captain of the US Navy, emphasizes that the size of the type 076 makes an important statement. "This shows the commitment of the PLA Navy for expedition troops and amphibian warfare as well as a growing ability to do this," he said, adding that it says a lot about the competition between the two largest naval strengths in the world, China and the United States.

"It demonstrates China's growing ability to maritime power projection at a time when the commitment and ability of the US Navy for expedition operations, amphibian operations and humanitarian aid have significantly reduced," says Schuster, who was formerly director of operations in the Joint Intelligence Center of the US Pacific Command.