The Chinese Navy officially unveils the fourth of its new Type 075 amphibious assault ships

Por

1 August, 2025

The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy has officially unveiled its fourth Type 075 amphibious assault ship, named Hubei and bearing hull number 34. The announcement was made as part of celebrations marking the 98th anniversary of the founding of the PLA, held last Friday, according to official Chinese media.

During the ceremony, officers and crew aboard the Hubei took part in naval exercises in the South China Sea alongside other amphibious units of the fleet. Footage broadcast by China Central Television (CCTV) showed the Hubei sailing in formation with another ship of the same class, the Hainan, as well as four Type 071 landing ships. Training exercises also included integration with Type 726 air-cushioned landing craft.

The Type 075 ships are commonly described as amphibious assault carriers. They feature a full-length flight deck and are primarily designed to operate helicopters, amphibious vehicles, and landing craft. These capabilities provide the ships with a significant capacity for conducting combined air and sea landing operations.

According to the official timeline, the first ship of the class, Hainan (31), was commissioned in April 2021. It was followed by the Guangxi (32) in December 2021, and the Anhui, which joined the East Sea Fleet in October 2022. With the addition of the Hubei, the PLA Navy now has four operational vessels of this class, with the latest reportedly assigned to the South Sea Fleet.

As early as January 2025, international observers and open-source intelligence had already reported the Hubei’s imminent commissioning after the ship departed the Hudong-Zhonghua shipyard and sailed to the port of Zhanjiang in southern China.

Chinese military experts have emphasized that the induction of Type 075 ships significantly boosts the PLA Navy’s amphibious projection capabilities. While the Type 071 ships are optimized for sea-based landings, the Type 075 allows for air-based operations thanks to its enhanced helicopter capacity. The combination of these two platforms enhances the PLA’s joint operational effectiveness in regions such as the South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait.

Meanwhile, China continues to advance its next generation of assault ships. In December 2024, the first Type 076 vessel—equipped with electromagnetic catapults—was launched, marking a further step in the technological evolution of the country’s amphibious fleet.

Images used for illustrative purposes only.