China - Sea trials for the amphibious supercarrier "Sichuan"

Away from the worldwide interest in the three aircraft carriers of the Chinese Navy (PLAN), the new amphibious helicopter landing ships are not very noticeable - especially as they do not differ significantly from one another at first glance. It is primarily the Type 075 (Yushen class, 237 metres, 31,000 tonnes), which could be considered a smaller version of the American amphibious assault ships of the Wasp and America classes with their 257 and 260 metres in length (41,000 and 44,000 tonnes). Four of these are currently underway and the construction of four more units of this class is planned.

Now the first type 076, the "Sichuan", which was launched a year ago, has also taken its first steps at sea. At 263 metres long and 43 metres wide, it is significantly larger - even than its American counterparts. Comparable in size to the two British Queen Elizabeth-class carriers (280 metres, 80,000 tonnes) and also equipped with an electromagnetic catapult (EMALS) for aircraft-sized unmanned aerial drones, this ship is playing in a new league.

It can be expected that the navalised variant of the Chinese GJ-11J combat drone (UCAV - unmanned combat aerial vehicle) will be embarked on board as a flying component within a short space of time. The Sichuan has still only completed its first three days of sea trials, but should be fully operational by the end of 2026 and handed over to PLAN in 2027.