Published December 28, 2024
Communist China announced the launch of massive assault ships, underscoring its relentless military expansion and growing ambitions on the international stage. These advanced amphibious warships, designed to project power across the seas, signal China’s intent to assert dominance in contested waters. Critics warn that these developments threaten regional stability and challenge the balance of power as Beijing’s aggressive military buildup continues to raise alarms among its neighbors and the broader international community.
The Sichuan, a super-sized 076 new-generation amphibious assault ship, launched for the first time this week during a naming ceremony for the world’s largest Navy. The vessel, under construction since at least October 2023, displaces 40,000 tons and is equipped with an electromagnetic catapult, allowing fighter jets to launch directly off its deck. Chinese military expert Song Zhongping compared the Sichuan to a “light aircraft carrier.” The world’s largest ship is designed to launch ground troops in landing crafts and provide them with air support. It will also be able to launch fighter jets and unmanned drones from an electromagnetic catapult and is equipped with“arrestor technology,” allowing fighter jets to land on its deck.
Defense News reported that China’s People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) has been modernizing its forces for nearly a decade to operate globally and not be restricted to waters near the Chinese mainland. The communist nation has been working on a nuclear-power aircraft carrier that would allow PLAN to deploy vessels in faraway waters without needing a base to refuel.
The ship is roughly 864 feet long and 141 feet wide, significantly larger than China’s existing Type 075.
Currently, the United States Navy has 11 nuclear-powered aircraft carriers deployed in calculated locations globally, including in the Asia-Pacific.
READ FULL ARTICLE
SOURCE: www.townhall.com
RELATED: China launches new amphibious assault ship in a race to rival US military
A launching ceremony is held to unveil China’s first Type 076 new-generation amphibious assault ship, the Sichuan, at a shipyard in Shanghai on December 27, 2024. (Pu Haiyang/VCG/Getty Images)
Published December 28, 2024
China has launched its first next-generation amphibious assault ship, adding a powerful cutting-edge warship to the country’s fast-expanding navy as it races to rival the military power of the United States.
The Type 076 amphibious assault ship entered the water on Friday at a launch ceremony at a shipyard in Shanghai, the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) said in a statement.
Named Sichuan after a southwestern Chinese province, the independently developed ship is hailed as a “key asset” for advancing the Navy’s transformation and enhancing its long-range operational capabilities, according to the statement.
China, which already boasts the largest naval force in the world, is building carriers and large warships at a staggering pace as it seeks to project power far beyond its shores and catch up to the military supremacy of the US.
With a full-load displacement of over 40,000 tons, the Type 076 ranks among the world’s largest amphibious assault ships, featuring a twin-island superstructure and a full-length flight deck, according to the PLAN.
READ FULL ARTICLE
SOURCE: www.aol.com
Be the first to comment