China launched The first in its new line of amphibious assault ships and its largest warship to date, strengthening what is already the largest navy in the world.
The Sichuan, a Type 076 new generation amphibious assault ship, was put into the water at a launching and naming ceremony on Friday.
With a full tonnage of 40,000 tons, the warship is among the largest amphibious assault ships in the world, featuring a double-island superstructure and a full-length flight deck, the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) said in a statement.
A launching ceremony to unveil China's first new generation amphibious assault ship, Sichuan, is held at Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding, a Shanghai-based subsidiary of China State Shipbuilding, on December 27, 2024, in Shanghai, China. (Bo Haiyang/VCG via Getty Images)
China Bugle, a news outlet associated with the PLAN News Media Center, reported that the ship will play a key role in the conversion and development of Chinese Navy And enhance its combat capabilities in distant seas.
Sichuan is capable of launching fighter jets and drones from an electromagnetic catapult. It is designed to transport ground troops in landing aircraft with air support.
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The new, independently developed vessel was named after southwest China's Sichuan province and was put into the water at a launching and naming ceremony. (Bo Haiyang/VCG via Getty Images)
The ship also features “parking technology” that Chinese researchers boast will allow fighter jets to land on its deck, similar to an aircraft carrier.
China launched its first amphibious assault ship, a Class 075 warship called Hainan, in 2019.
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Chinese military officials celebrate at the Sichuan launch ceremony. (Bo Haiyang/VCG via Getty Images)
PLANmi has been modernizing its forces for more than a decade, with the aim of being able to operate globally rather than limited to waters close to the Chinese mainland. China was able for the first time to launch fighter jets with the new electromagnetic technology on its home-made aircraft carrier, Fujian, which was launched two years ago.
Sichuan will now undergo additional tests at sea.
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China has The largest navy in the world It is constantly trying to upgrade its fleet. Recently, researchers found 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 globally, including the Asia-Pacific region.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
