China has embarked on a new phase of naval development with the commencement of sea trials for its first Type 076 amphibious assault ship, PLANS Sichuan.

The vessel departed from Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding’s dockyard in Shanghai on 14 November 2025, marking a pivotal step in Beijing’s effort to integrate electromagnetic launch systems into its broader naval force structure.

The trials aim to assess the performance of its power generation, propulsion, and electrical systems before the platform enters operational testing.

The Sichuan stands apart from previous Chinese amphibious ships through its incorporation of an Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS), an advanced technology previously fielded only on the US Navy’s Gerald R Ford-class carriers. EMALS employs linear electromagnetic motors rather than steam catapults, enabling smoother and more energy-efficient aircraft launches.

The system allows a broader mix of aircraft, including manned fighter jets, unmanned aerial vehicles, and tiltrotor aircraft, to operate from shorter decks—broadening mission flexibility and sortie rates.

Displacing over 40,000 tons, the Sichuan is believed to be the largest amphibious assault ship ever built outside the United States. Its full-length flight deck and dual-island superstructure reflect Chinese efforts to optimise flight operations while segregating bridge and air-traffic control functions.

The dual-island concept, similar to that of the Ford-class carrier, supports improved redundancy, command separation, and deck efficiency during concurrent aviation and amphibious operations.

CCTV and other state-run Chinese outlets report that the ship further integrates electromagnetic arresting gear, allowing recovery of fixed-wing aircraft—a technological leap beyond existing Type 075 landing helicopter docks.

Unlike conventional assault ships focused on rotary-wing assets, the Type 076 design aligns more closely with a light aircraft carrier capable of forward-deployed air support. This hybrid configuration could enable China’s People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) to conduct precision strikes, close air support, and airborne surveillance directly from the same platform used for amphibious deployments.

The ship’s construction began in 2024, progressing rapidly through mooring trials and onboard system commissioning in under a year. The speed of development highlights China’s shipbuilding capacity and its ability to field increasingly sophisticated naval assets.

Senior Chinese defence commentators, such as Wang Yunfei, note that Sichuan’s advanced automation, aviation control systems, and integrated electromagnetic technologies signal a generational leap in Chinese naval design philosophy.

Strategically, the vessel’s introduction enhances China’s amphibious warfare capability by providing a mobile power-projection platform ideally suited for operations in contested littoral zones. Analysts believe it could play a central role in contingency plans concerning Taiwan, enabling maritime and air-based support for amphibious landings. Its large air wing, potentially including the J-15T carrier-capable fighter and forthcoming J-35 stealth aircraft, reinforces the vision of a distributed but highly capable naval aviation force.

With the recent commissioning of the Fujian, China now operates three aircraft carriers—Liaoning, Shandong, and Fujian—each exemplifying incremental evolution in design sophistication and capability.

The emergence of Sichuan adds a new dimension, as a platform that bridges the gap between amphibious assault and carrier operations. When combined with China’s large fleet of 234 operational warships, the world’s largest by number, the PLAN’s force structure underscores Beijing’s accelerating maritime modernisation.

The Indian Navy, while smaller in fleet size, continues to expand its reach and influence in the Indian Ocean region with dual carriers INS Vikrant and INS Vikramaditya and a steady pace of new warship commissions.

Regional observers assess that the parallel naval build-ups by China and India signal a shift towards a multipolar maritime order in the Indo-Pacific, where capability, logistics, and technology integration may outweigh sheer numbers.

Sichuan’s successful trials could mark the start of serial production of EMALS-equipped amphibious ships, giving China a unique class of hybrid vessels capable of sustained air operations in near-shore and blue-water environments. The outcome of these trials will likely define not only the next decade of Chinese naval warfare doctrine but also the future balance of power across the Western Pacific and Indian Ocean theatres.

Agencies