BANGKOK — China launched a new amphibious assault ship Friday, capable of launching fighter jets and designed to strengthen the navy’s combat ability in distant seas. The Sichuan, the first ship of the Type 076, is China’s largest such ship yet, displacing 40,000 tons and equipped with an electromagnetic catapult that will allow fighter jets…
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”,…
China’s new stealth combat drones are likely to be paired with fighter jets, playing the role of “loyal wingman” and acting as a “force multiplier” for the country’s airborne operations, according to military analysts. Citing satellite imagery from Planet Labs, defence news site The War Zone reported last week that a pair of GJ-11 Sharp…