The new amphibious “monster ship” with aircraft carrier capabilities will be significantly larger and wider than its predecessor, the Type 075. Length of the new ship is approximately 263 meters, and the width — almost 43 meters.
China is actively promoting the development of a new warship, known as the Type 076, which will be equipped with a large open flight deck. The ship combines features of an amphibious assault ship and an aircraft carrier — its flight deck is expected to be wider than its predecessors, and the ship's displacement is expected to exceed 40,000 tons when fully loaded. On May 29, The War Zone reviewers told about the new universal amphibious “monster ship”.
The ship will be equipped with innovative systems, including catapults and devices to support unmanned aerial vehicles (UCAV). It is assumed that there will be electromagnetic catapults and detention systems for launching and receiving drones on board. Unlike the Type 075, the new ship will have an aircraft elevator on the port side of the aft edge, as well as a large elevator in the center of the stern.
The Type 076 is being built in the same shipyard as the Type 075, but it much larger and wider. The length of the new ship is about 263 meters, and the width — almost 43 meters. For comparison, the Type 075 is 239 meters long and 32 meters wide, and the new Fujian aircraft carrier — 316 and 84 meters respectively.
China's Type 075 ship Photo: the war zone
The flight deck of the Type 076 is designed to accommodate various types of helicopters, such as with crew and without. In addition, at the 2021 Zhuhai Air Show, a naval modification of the GJ-11 Sharp Sword unmanned aerial vehicle was presented, taking off from the Type 075 amphibious assault ship, demonstrating the possibility of using drones on the new Type 076.
Authors of the material stress that the development of the Type 076 underscores China's desire to expand its naval capabilities. Its construction is related to the plans of the People's Liberation Army of China (PLA) to create multifunctional ships capable of performing a variety of tasks, including amphibious operations and support of unmanned systems.