China’s new massive assault ship that can launch fighter jets or drones:

SHANGHAI – In a move that has raised more questions than answers, China introduced what it claims to be its latest amphibious assault vessel, the Sichuan, during a secretive launch event in Shanghai this past Friday. This ship, which is being touted as the first of the Yulan-class landing helicopter assault (LHA), boasts a flight deck sprawling across an area equivalent to three football fields, making it potentially the largest of its kind globally.

However, the grandiose claims surrounding the Sichuan’s capabilities should be met with a degree of skepticism. While it’s celebrated for incorporating a novel catapult system for launching fixed-wing aircraft, a feature more commonly associated with full-fledged aircraft carriers, the real intentions and operational scope of this vessel remain obscured by a veil of secrecy.

The Chinese navy has hinted that the Sichuan could function not just as an amphibious assault ship but potentially as a “light aircraft carrier.” The ship’s dimensions, with a length over 850 feet and a displacement of 40,000 tons, place it between its predecessor, the Type 075, and the grander Fujian carrier. Yet, it’s worth questioning whether these specifications truly justify the hype or if they’re part of a broader narrative to project naval prowess.

The inclusion of an electromagnetic aircraft launch system (EMALS) – technology that only a handful of countries have mastered – is particularly noteworthy. While this system mirrors those used on the US Navy’s Ford-class carriers, the actual operational effectiveness of such technology on the Sichuan remains to be seen, especially given China’s relatively nascent experience with aircraft carrier operations.

Speculation abounds about the Sichuan possibly serving as a drone carrier, leveraging its expansive deck for large-scale UAV operations. However, without concrete details from the Chinese navy on its air wing composition, these theories remain just that – theories, possibly part of a psychological operation to assert naval dominance.

The Pentagon’s report on China’s military developments suggested that the Type 076 could join the fleet later this decade, but the timeline’s vagueness could imply delays or perhaps an overestimation of China’s shipbuilding capabilities. While China’s shipbuilding industry is undeniably impressive, the leap from green-water to blue-water naval operations might not be as straightforward as some reports claim.

Critics and analysts like Matthew Funaiole from the China Power Project at CSIS have noted the unprecedented nature of an LHA with a catapult system, yet the practical implications of this innovation are still up for debate. The ship represents “a substantial step forward,” according to CSIS, but whether this step aligns with real strategic capabilities or is more about optics in the global naval race is a matter of conjecture.

As with any military advancement from a nation known for its strategic opacity, the Sichuan’s true role, capabilities, and impact on regional power dynamics should be scrutinized beyond the surface-level announcements and impressive launch ceremonies.