China Launches Third Carrier Warship: New Type 075 Class Assault Ship to Bolster PLA Fleet

On September 25th Chinese shipyards launched their third aircraft carrier intended for the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy, the Type 075 Class assault ship, which represents the latest in a series of high end warships to complete development in the country. The warship was launched from the Hudong Zhonghua Shipyard, and measures 250 meters long. Unlike the heavier Liaoning and Type 001A ships, which at around 70,000 tons each are based on the Soviet Kuznetsov Class design, the 40,000 ton Type 075 Class more closely resembles the U.S. Navy’s Wasp Class and America Class warships in role and appearance. Like the Wasp and America classes, the Type 075  are intended to serve as both carriers and amphibious assault ships depending on the composition of their air wings. The ability to deploy several hundred Marines and dozens of armoured vehicles quickly with attack helicopters and air support makes these types of warships invaluable for offensive operations - whether conducting a beach landing on disputed islands or against an enemy’s mainland. Such ships are also capable of deploying specialised vertical landing capable fighter jets - approximately 20 each for a 40,000 ton vessel - which can contribute to amphibious operations or allow the ships to serve as carriers in their own right.

The Type 075 has a comparable displacement to the French nuclear powered carrier Charles De Gaulle, by far the most capable carrier fielded by a continental European power, meaning although it is light by Chinese or American standards it is still a considerable asset. While the U.S. Navy deploys Harrier II and more recently F-35B vertical landing capable fighter jets from its amphibious carriers, China has yet to unveil such an aircraft. It has been speculated that the PLA could look to Russia for such technologies, with the USSR previously having been a world leader in vertical landing aircraft with the Yak-141 and the Russian Navy today working on a new vertical landing jet of its own for lighter carriers it plans to field. It remains a considerable possibility that development could be undertaken under a joint project for this purpose. Vertical landing technologies are also potentially useful for operations from areas with limited landing zones such as the South China Sea islets - where PLA airfields are likely to be targeted in the opening stages of a war.

The launch of China’s third aircraft carrier notably comes less than a week after the launch of the country’s fifth Type 055 Class destroyer. These 13,000 ton warships are widely considered the most capable of their type in the world, deploying 112 vertical launch cells, some of the world’s most capable anti ship cruise missiles and a multi layered air defence systems. These heavy destroyers are expected to come at the forefront of a carrier escort as the PLA Navy deploys more strike groups in future. China was predicted in mid 2018 to have launched seven carriers by the year 2025, and with two more Type 075 Class ships under construction alongside two heavier flattop carriers - the Type 002 and Type 003 Class, it appears well on its way to meeting this expectation. China’s Xinhua News Agency reported regarding the first Type 075 Class ship’s fate after launch: “Next, the ship will carry out equipment commissioning, mooring and navigation tests as planned.” With the warship launched just days before China celebrates the 70th anniversary of its people’s republic, it remains a possibility that new aircraft for the ship will be unveiled shortly.