Video | Continuous Launch of Stealth Drones Like "Dropping Dumplings": Unveiling the Secret Weapon of the Sichuan Ship

The Sichuan ship, hull number 51, is a new generation amphibious assault ship of the navy, capable of carrying fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and amphibious equipment. This allows the Sichuan ship to step out of the traditional amphibious assault ship category, becoming a "cross-border" equipment that combines amphibious assault and fixed-wing carrier aircraft takeoff and landing capabilities. What kind of combat power does this "cross-border weapon" possess? Let's reveal!

Adapting to future intelligent warfare

The Sichuan ship can become a "drone aircraft carrier"

Military expert Zhang Junsha: The electromagnetic rail of the Sichuan ship can easily launch 30-ton class J-35 stealth fighters and KJ-600 fixed-wing early warning aircraft. More importantly, it can continuously launch stealth drones of the Attack-11 type like "dumplings," and this drone swarm tactic could become the "trump card" of the 076 amphibious assault ship. It will be a small aircraft carrier at sea, both a replica of a traditional aircraft carrier and a "drone aircraft carrier," adapting to future intelligent warfare and undertaking diverse combat missions.

Full-length flight deck + dual island + electromagnetic catapult

The Sichuan ship can perform various combat missions

The Sichuan ship features a full-length flight deck and a dual-island superstructure, making it the first amphibious assault ship in our country equipped with a dual-island design. The forward island focuses on navigation command and fleet coordination, while the aft island is specifically responsible for air control, including command and scheduling of drones, helicopters, and fixed-wing fighters, enhancing the efficiency of executing various combat missions.

It is also equipped with an electromagnetic catapult, making it the world's first amphibious assault ship equipped with such a system. Ships equipped with electromagnetic catapults have high efficiency in launching carrier-based aircraft, and the quick takeoff speed means it can have stronger air superiority and ground strike capabilities.

Military expert:

The Sichuan ship can form a joint combat formation with aircraft carriers

Military expert Zhang Junsha: First, the fundamental mission of the Sichuan ship is to carry out landing operations. It possesses tri-service integrated attack capabilities. It can transport landing troops for amphibious landings, and its helicopters can conduct vertical landing operations behind enemy beachhead positions, including helicopter insertion and airborne operations, with a pincer attack that is more conducive to the success of landing operations. At the same time, this type of ship and its carried fighters, helicopters, and drones can provide fire support for the amphibious landing troops, with carrier-based fighters conducting follow-up cleanup strikes.

Second, it can form a maritime strike formation with Type 055 destroyers, Type 052 missile destroyers, and Type 054 missile frigates. In the future, the Sichuan ship can also form a joint maritime combat formation with aircraft carriers, providing mutual support and coordinated operations. (Source: China Central Television's Defense Military Channel "Sword Training" program)