Click to expand. The Type 076 under construction at Hudong, recent flyover image. Note what appears to be the catapult trench towards port side of hull. Image via Chinese social media.

Chinese Type 076 Amphibious Carrier Takes Shape In Shanghai, Drone Capabilities Emerge

New carrier represents the next stage for China’s amphibious assault capabilities. Design will integrate catapult and fixed wing drones supporting amphibious operations.

Photos shared by enthusiasts through social media and updated satellite imagery via Google Earth have provided additional information on a new type of Chinese amphibious assault carrier generally referred to as Type 076 under construction at Hudong. Shanghai-based Hudong-Zhonghua is the yard responsible for construction of all amphibious assault carriers and dock landing ships for the Chinese Navy.

The Type 076 is a follow-up to the Type 075 amphibious assault carrier most recently produced by Hudong. The yard has launched four Type 075 LHD to date. Three ships, named Hainan (31), Guangxi (32) and Anhui (33) are in service with PLAN. The fourth ship is presently fitting out at HZ on Changxing Island, near where Type 076 is under construction. Unlike Type 075 the new design is longer and wider and appears to feature a different propulsion design. Most notably the ship has long been claimed by observers to feature an electromagnetic catapult for assisted take-off of fixed wing aircraft.

Catapult-equipped LHD as a global first

The new images shared now clarify some significant details for Type 076. Photos from overflights of the facility due to its proximity to Shanghai Pudong International Airport clearly show a single long catapult trench on the Type 076 flight deck. The feature appears to have a length around 100 metres. This is roughly in line also with the electromagnetic design installed on China’s first supercarrier, the Fujian (18). Similar dimensions do not indicate comparable capability in supporting selected aircraft. Nevertheless, equipping an amphibious assault carrier with a catapult for launching fixed wing aircraft represents a global first in naval shipbuilding.

Enthusiast imagery over the last few months has also shown several helicopter mockups parked behind the drydock, where Type 076 is under construction. These mockups cover the entire spectrum of naval helicopters in use by PLAN. Designs observable include Z-9, Z-18, Z-20 and the Russian-sourced Ka-28/31. In addition a smaller VTOL drone mockup is also present. The drone-design was previously seen in various places including onboard the Type 075 helicopter carrier in service with PLAN.

Research facility for fixed wing carrierborne drones revealed

More notably, recent satellite imagery of the new Hudong-Zhonghua construction facilities on Changxing Island also revealed an intriguing test area for naval fixed wing drones. The facility in question shows two apparent mockups matching the general configuration of the GJ-11 UCAV. Documentation circulated on social media suggests the site serves as shipbuilding-related R&D facility. According to the documents the operator is the 708th Institute, an R&D organisation subordinate to CSSC. The China State Shipbuilding Corporation is the overall entity owning both the Jiangnan- and Hudong yards operating on Changxing Island.

The new facility in its basic configuration resembles part of the Type 076-hull under construction. Notably its width is very similar, if slightly wider at 60 metres. This compares to a maximum beam across the flight deck of Type 076 of 50-55 metres. In addition some surface features of the facility resemble aspects of the Type 076 flightdeck. In conclusion, the installation plausibly appears to support testing of equipment related to UCAV deck handling onboard the new carrier.

The GJ-11 features a jet-powered tailless flying wing configuration with a single dorsal intake and tricycle landing gear. The drone also features significant full spectrum signature optimisation. As such the design broadly compares to American efforts such as X-45 and X-47. Models of GJ-11 shown at defence exhibitions including the bi-annual Zuhai Airshow also feature internal weapons bays for ground attack missions.

This is not the first time imagery of GJ-11 or its mockups tied the design to a role in naval aviation. Imagery shared on social media in late 2023 showed a single GJ-11 mockup present also on the land-based aircraft carrier testing facility in Wuhan. The installation has supported development of various features for all Chinese aircraft carriers, from Liaoning over Shandong to Fujian. Whether GJ-11 will have a broader role including operating from other PLAN carriers is uncertain for now. Presently the timing in appearance of these mockups suggest the development of its naval derivative focuses on Type 076.

Type 076 significantly larger than preceding Type 075 LHD

All recent imagery discussed here further confirms other aspects of Type 076 previously speculated on, notably the carrier’s basic size. Type 076 should have a length over the flight deck of 250 to 260 metres. Its beam at flight deck level should exceed 50 metres, as mentioned. The full displacement will exceed 40,000 tonnes and may be comparable to the US Navy America-class at 46,000 tonnes. In contrast the preceding Type 075 has an estimated displacement around 36,000 tonnes. Like the American Tarawa-class LHA and unlike Type 075 the new ship should feature at least one side-mounted aircraft elevator.

Propulsion appears to be a gas-turbine setup, which would be a notable departure from diesel-powered Type 075. As a direct consequence of this propulsion Type 076 may feature a twin island-configuration. The reason for this arrangement relates to physical distance of the engine spaces and related plumbing for funnels. Foreign-designed carriers featuring gas turbine propulsion combined with a twin island-arrangement include the British QE-class aircraft carriers and the Italian Trieste amphibious assault ship.

Considering the speedy progress of construction on Type 076, Hudong may launch the carrier by early 2025. This date remains highly speculative, given this is a novel design. Similar to Fujian a comparison in schedule with preceding types remains difficult. In any case Type 076 represents an intriguing evolution of the amphibious aircraft carrier-concept, destined to incorporate both VTOL- and large fixed wing-drones.