– China is building a new type of amphibious assault ship known as the Type 076 or Yulan-class.
– Satellite images show rapid construction progress at a shipyard in Shanghai. The ship will be much larger than China’s previous Type 075 assault ships.
– Notably, the Type 076 appears to have a catapult launch system similar to those used on aircraft carriers. This would allow it to launch fixed-wing aircraft as well as helicopters.
– If capable of launching manned fighter jets, it would give the ship qualities between a normal assault carrier and an aircraft carrier. But it may focus more on unmanned aircraft at first.
– The fast construction shows China’s growing shipbuilding capacity. They can leverage commercial facilities to rapidly build military ships when needed.
– The purpose of the Type 076 is still unclear but it could have roles in Taiwan operations or projecting power far from China’s coast. Its flexible design also allows multiple uses.
Source: Insider
