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China started the first of its new line of amphibious assault ships and its largest warship to date, bolstering what is already the largest navy in the world.
Sichuan, a new-generation Type 076 amphibious assault ship, was launched at a launching and naming ceremony on Friday.
With a full displacement of 40,000 tons, the warship ranks among the largest amphibious assault ships in the world, with a twin-island superstructure and a full-length flight deck, according to a statement from the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN).
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A launching ceremony was held to unveil China’s first new-generation Type 076 amphibious assault ship, Sichuan, at Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding, a Shanghai subsidiary of China State Shipbuilding Corp, on December 27, 2024 in Shanghai, China. (Pu Haiyang/VCG via Getty Images)
The China Bugle, a news outlet affiliated with the PLAN Media Center, reported that the ship will play a key role in the transformation and development Chinese Navy and improve their combat capabilities on the far seas.
Sichuan is capable of launching fighter jets and drones from an electromagnetic catapult. It was designed to transport ground troops in landing craft with air support.
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Named after the southwestern Chinese province of Sichuan, the independently developed new vessel was launched at a launching and naming ceremony. (Pu Haiyang/VCG via Getty Images)
The ship also has “drainage technology” that Chinese researchers boast will allow fighter jets to land on its deck, similar to an aircraft carrier.
In 2019, China launched its first amphibious assault ship, an 075-class warship named Hainan.
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Chinese military officials celebrate at the launch ceremony of the Sichuan. (Pu Haiyang/VCG via Getty Images)
PLANmi has been working to modernize its forces for more than a decade, with the goal of being able to operate globally rather than being limited to waters close to the Chinese mainland. China was the first to successfully launch fighter jets with the new electromagnetic technology on its domestic aircraft carrier Fujian, which was launched two years ago.
Sichuan will now undergo additional sea trials.
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China has the largest navy in the world and consistently tries to improve its fleet. Recently, researchers revealed that the country is working on designing a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, which would allow it to deploy its ships in distant waters without the need for a refueling base.
The US Navy currently has 11 nuclear-powered aircraft carriers deployed in strategic locations around the world, including Asia and the Pacific.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
