China’s Type 075 amphibious assault ship completes trial, but needs aircraft
- World’s third-largest ship of its type finishes 18-day trial and could be commissioned next year
- Work continues on its Z-20J aircraft, modified from Z-20 armed helicopters
However, a military insider said the amphibious warship was still awaiting the launch of the aircraft it would carry: the naval versions of the Z-8J and Z-20J, which are modified based on the air force’s Z-8 and Z-20 armed helicopters.
The Type 075 landing helicopter dock (LHD) is estimated to have a displacement of about 40,000 tonnes and is China’s largest – and the world’s third-largest – amphibious assault ship, behind the United States’ Wasp-class and America-class ships.
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Beijing-based naval expert Li Jie said he expected the warship could be handed over to the People’s Liberation Army Navy’s marines as early as the first half of next year.