China's 076 will soon conduct electromagnetic catapult tests, carrying stealth unmanned fighter jets to penetrate Western Pacific bases. What worries the US most is that a 50,000-ton giant ship can be built by China in just 3 years, with 10 ships completed in total.
China's 076 will also start electromagnetic catapult tests. For a 50,000-ton amphibious assault ship like the 076, its large deck area and hangar well deck, along with the help of electromagnetic catapults, have already made the 076's theoretical combat capability exceed that of a conventional medium-sized ski-jump deck carrier.
However, the operational capabilities of the 076 far exceed those of a regular aircraft carrier. As a 40,000-ton giant ship, the 076 not only retains the traditional well deck design, but also innovatively equips an electromagnetic catapult system, enabling it to take off and land large fixed-wing drones such as the CH-21.
In short, the 076 has completely blurred the traditional division of labor between aircraft carriers and amphibious assault ships. It is no longer just a transport and support platform, but a "combined amphibious strike node" capable of independently providing air cover and precise firepower, reducing the absolute reliance on aircraft carriers. This means that in certain future missions, the navy can use a more flexible and economical formation to carry out tasks that previously required an aircraft carrier.
A netizen calculated the maximum aircraft capacity of the 076 based on the layout of the US amphibious ship's aircraft. If using a full ground attack configuration, it could carry up to 32 CH-21 drones and 2 Zhi-9C helicopters, totaling 34 aircraft.
32 CH-21 drones penetrating the US Western Pacific bases would be difficult for the US air defense radar to detect, allowing them to strike key value targets.
What is the most desperate thing for the US? The time from the 076's commissioning to its service is about 3 years, and China has more than one dry dock capable of building the 076. If China needs the 076, it can definitely build 10 ships within 3 years, which would amount to 10 drone aircraft carriers. Such power would be terrifying, and this carrier can also perform amphibious landing missions. Drones can disable air defense radars, followed by combined arms battalions and tanks launching attacks.
With such a superpower, how can the US deal with it?
Original text: www.toutiao.com/article/1844705144996867/
Statement: This article represents the personal views of the author.