In a pinch, the large-deck amphibious assault ships could also function as “light” aircraft carriers, provided they were equipped with the right aircraft. At a minimum, the Type 076 would be a formidable addition to the Chinese Navy’s expanding amphibious fleet. It could also bolster China’s carrier-based aviation capabilities.
The Chinese Navy already has three Type 075 large landing ships and is building at least one more. A major difference between the Type 075 and the future Type 076 is the latter’s possible inclusion of catapults and lightning rods. Steam-powered or electromagnetic catapults help carriers launch large fixed-wing aircraft at short distances. Lightning rods help them land at short distances.
The Type 076 specifications specify unmanned aerial vehicles, possibly indicating the PLAN plans to equip the class with one or more of the many armed drones being developed by Chinese industry for the People’s Liberation Army, Navy, and Air Force.
That makes sense: The Chinese navy is already building an experimental drone carrier at a riverine shipyard near Shanghai that could help the fleet develop technology and tactics for the Type 076.
The Type 076 is unlikely to operate any of China’s existing and developing manned carrier-based aircraft in the Chinese fleet, including the Shenyang J-16 fighter, Shenyang J-35 stealth fighter, Shenyang J-16D radar jammer, or Xi’an KJ-600 early warning aircraft.
The lightest of these types, the J-16, is largely incompatible with China’s first two aircraft carriers, which were Soviet-inspired. Liaoning and ShandongBoth ships are about 1,000 feet long and are equipped with arrestor wires but no catapults. To take off from the ships’ “ski-jump” ramps, the J-16 must reach flight speed under its own power, which means it must take off only partially loaded with fuel and weapons.
The Chinese navy is devoting huge resources to building its third aircraft carrier, a 1,040-foot-long vessel. Fujian Provinceboasts a larger flight deck and catapult.
Fujian ProvinceThe aircraft, which set off on a sea trial voyage from Shanghai last month, is optimized for the J-16, J-35, J-16D and KJ-600. If the 830-foot-long Type 076 can be fitted to China’s new carrier air wing, Fujian Province It may have been redundant.
But if the Chinese navy were to develop vertical thrust jump jets in the Boeing AV-8B Harrier or Lockheed Martin F-35B class, the Type 076 could be capable of much more than hauling drones — it could become a true light aircraft carrier, much like American amphibious fighters sometimes are.
