China has launched the first of its next generation of amphibious assault ships, the Type 076, featuring an electromagnetic catapult.
The independently-developed Sichuan, bearing the hull number 51, entered the water at a launch and naming ceremony in Shanghai at the Hudong-Zhonghua shipyard, according to state broadcaster CCTV.
The Sichuan will be “a key asset”, advancing naval transformation, and enhancing the PLA Navy’s long-range operational capabilities, the CCTV report said.
With a full-load displacement of more than 40,000 tonnes, the vessel features a dual-island structure and a full-length flight deck.
The most notable feature is the Sichuan’s innovative electromagnetic catapult and arresting technologies, allowing it to carry fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and amphibious equipment.
An electromagnetic launch system also features on China’s Fujian aircraft carrier, which was launched in 2022, to make it possible for planes to take off from the platform more regularly.
