• China's first Type 076 new-generation amphibious assault ship, the Sichuan, in Shanghai, east China, December 27, 2024 (Xinhua)

China has launched the world's largest amphibious assault ship, and its features have driven widespread speculation that it could be the world's first purpose-built drone carrier, making it the third country with such a warship, Business Insider reported.

China entered the drone carrier race with the launch of its new vessel on December 27, a modified version of the Type 075-class amphibious assault ship named Sichuan, which features design upgrades optimized for flight operations, including repositioned elevators and the addition of two command islands.

China State Media:
PLAN Type 076 LHD wt Max Displacement over 40k tons

Dense Close-in Defense Detected(!!) pic.twitter.com/K6BA8OkQtn

— David Wang (@Nickatgreat1220) December 27, 2024

The US Navy has been experimenting with carrier-based drones for decades, from the catapult-launched RQ-2 Pioneer in the 1980s to the historic X-47B's autonomous carrier landings in 2013. While these tests proved the technical feasibility of operating drones from carriers, they never progressed beyond prototypes and limited demonstrations.

This stands in stark contrast to China's new purpose-built drone carrier, which, rather than adapting existing ships, presents a dedicated platform features integrated launch systems, optimized maintenance facilities, and networked drone control capabilities - mirroring how traditional carriers transformed naval aviation a century ago.

The Sichuan

The lead ship of China's Type 076-class, the Sichuan, stretches 853 feet in length with reported displacements exceeding 40,000 tons, surpassing the size of the 844-foot America-class LHA and establishing itself as the world's largest amphibious assault ship.

Today China launched its first Type 076 new-generation amphibious assault ship, the Sichuan. Named after the southwest province, the #076 follows the naming rule of aircraft carriers like the Liaoning, the Shandong and the Fujian, indicating its heavyweight. pic.twitter.com/zxpaLn6Vqu

— Sinical (@Sinical_C) December 27, 2024

The Sichuan introduces two unprecedented features: A substantial portside-embedded catapult system and advanced arresting gear across its flight deck, which together enable the vessel to not only launch fixed-wing aircraft with unprecedented efficiency but also recover them through arrested landings, capabilities never before seen on ships of this class.

The absence of crewed short-takeoff and landing aircraft in China's current naval aviation inventory points toward the Sichuan's being designed to operate primarily unmanned systems, with the GJ-11 Sharp Sword emerging as the most probable candidate for its flight operations. 

Publicly displayed GJ-11 mockups at airshows reveal two internal weapons bays with an estimated payload capacity exceeding 4,400 pounds.

An official concept video from its manufacturer, the state-owned Aviation Industry Corporation of China, depicts a ship-launched GJ-11 deploying six decoy drones designed to overwhelm enemy air defenses through swarm tactics and potential electronic warfare capabilities, suggesting sophisticated mission profiles for this unmanned combat system.

The GJ-11 could operate as an AI-enabled "loyal wingman" alongside manned combat aircraft, potentially forming integrated strike packages with carrier-based J-15 fighters and next-generation J-35 stealth fighters to enhance mission flexibility and combat effectiveness across various operational scenarios.