On Friday, China launched a new amphibious assault ship that can carry fighter jets. This ship is designed to enhance the navy's ability to fight in far-off seas.

The Sichuan, China's largest ship of the 076 type, has a displacement of 40,000 tons. It is equipped with an electromagnetic catapult, which enables fighter jets to take off directly from its deck, as reported by the official Xinhua news agency. The ship is built to support ground forces in the air and launch them in landing craft. Created by Chinese researchers, this ship features "arrestor technology," which enables fighter jets to land on its deck. The Type 075, China's first amphibious assault ship, was launched in 2019.

For over ten years, China's People's Liberation Army Navy, or PLAN, has been modernizing its troops in an effort to expand its capabilities beyond the waters close to the Chinese mainland and enable it to operate worldwide. Two years ago, China successfully launched fighter jets equipped with the new electromagnetic technology on the Fujian, an aircraft carrier built in the country. According to the Global Times, Chinese military analyst Song Zhongping likened the Sichuan to a “light aircraft carrier”. More testing, including sea trials, will be done on the ship. 

China has the largest navy in the world and is continually working to improve its fleet. Recently, researchers discovered that the country is planning to build a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier. This would enable China to send its ships to far-off waters without needing a base for refuelling. The United States can maintain numerous strike groups deployed globally, including in the Asia-Pacific region, at all times owing to its eleven nuclear-powered aircraft carriers.