China’s Sichuan Ship achieving consecutive catapult launches of fixed-wing drones marks a significant milestone. According to CCTV News, during this year’s Mid-Autumn Festival Gala hosted by China Central Television, thousands of drones formed dynamic aerial displays depicting the silhouette of the Sichuan Ship and simulating the launch of carrier-based drones from its deck—reflecting widespread public anticipation for the vessel.
The Sichuan Ship (hull number 51), the lead unit of China’s Type 076 amphibious assault ship class, displaces over 40,000 tons when fully loaded and features a twin island design with a full-length flight deck. Its most distinctive feature is the integration of electromagnetic catapult and arresting systems—the first such configuration among amphibious assault ships globally. Military commentator Du Wenglong explicitly stated on CCTV that the Sichuan Ship represents “the world’s first unmanned mother ship.”
According to military expert Cao Weidong on CCTV, the Sichuan Ship’s electromagnetic catapult technology originates from the Fujian Ship, though adjustments have been made in power output and specific design elements. This indicates that China’s electromagnetic catapult system possesses precise control over launch force, enabling a single catapult mechanism to adaptively launch different payloads—ranging from heavy manned aircraft to lightweight drones—depending on mission requirements.
Military analyst Zhang Junshe noted on CCTV that the Sichuan Ship can launch stealth drones in rapid succession, akin to a “rain of drones”—a capability that may become a defining tactical advantage for the Type 076 class. The Attack-21 drone, featuring omnidirectional stealth characteristics and a radar cross-section as low as 0.01 square meters—comparable to the J-20 fighter—has a maximum range of 4,000 kilometers and can remain airborne for over 12 hours. It is capable of executing precision strikes against land targets, anti-ship operations, electronic warfare, and target designation tasks.
The Attack-21 can serve as a “loyal wingman” for the J-35, extending sensor reach and distributing targeting data. Alternatively, it can operate independently to guide the YJ-21 missiles aboard the Type 055 destroyers in beyond-visual-range strikes, establishing a “sensor-to-shooter separation” operational model. Traditionally, amphibious vessels functioned primarily as troop transports and helicopter platforms, focused on force projection. With the integration of electromagnetic catapults, the Sichuan Ship has evolved into a standalone platform capable of conducting reconnaissance, air defense suppression, and precision strike missions—effectively transforming it into an “unmanned carrier.” This development could help mitigate the current shortfall in China’s large-scale aircraft carrier fleet.
Internationally, it is widely recognized that U.S. amphibious ships relying on F-35B vertical takeoff and landing aircraft must significantly reduce fuel and ordnance capacity, resulting in an operational radius of less than 800 kilometers. In contrast, the Sichuan Ship’s electromagnetic catapult enables drones to launch at full fuel and payload capacity, with an operational radius exceeding 1,500 kilometers—without requiring pilot safety considerations.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1878169249655815/
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