Marking what would be a new milestone ahead of its induction into the Chinese Navy, open-source intelligence (OSINT) reports indicate that the new Type 076 Sichuan amphibious assault ship has reportedly completed its first tests with the electromagnetic catapult system installed on its flight deck—a feature that distinguishes it from the service’s previous operational vessels. Notably, this development comes just weeks after reports suggested that the ship was preparing to begin sea trials, signaling significant progress in its construction at the Hudong–Zhonghua Shipyard in Shanghai.
It is worth recalling that the most recent images of the vessel showed the removal of the protective covering previously placed over the electromagnetic catapult system, as well as the installation of a new radar system. These updates revealed that the Sichuan is already equipped with the main components that make it the most advanced ship of its class within the Chinese Navy—turning it, according to most analysts in the country, into a key platform for the first attack waves in the event of a conflict with Taiwan.
Launched in December 2024, the ship is also notable for its large size, which, according to initial estimates, surpasses that of Japan’s Izumo-class vessels and the U.S. Navy’s America-class ships. In concrete terms, the Sichuan features a flight deck approximately 260 meters long and 43 meters wide, with capacity for up to 1,000 marines and a significant number of internal hangars. In addition, the vessel will be equipped with an advanced arresting system developed from experience gained during the construction of the Type 003 Fujian aircraft carrier, facilitating the recovery of deployed systems.
In this regard, Chinese analysts have suggested that the ship could operate the new GJ-11 Sharp Sword drones, which are capable of carrying guided munitions, decoys, and advanced electronic warfare systems. Furthermore, during its construction, the vessel was seen alongside mockups of several types of helicopters, including the Chinese-made Z-9, Z-18, and Z-20, as well as the Russian Ka-28 and Ka-31 models. Additionally, it has been observed that the Type 076 features a well deck at the stern, allowing it to deploy and recover smaller craft for amphibious operations as required.
Images used for illustrative purposes.
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