Chinese navy commissions second LHD
The PLA Navy now has two Type 075 LHDs in service, both commissioned last year. (Photo: Chinese Internet)
The People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) commissioned a Type 075 LHD on 26 December 2021, the second ship of the class for the year.
Christened Guangxi with pennant number ‘32’, this second flat-top was commissioned at a closed ceremony at Zhoushan Naval Base. It has been assigned to the Eastern Theatre Navy (formerly East Sea Fleet), which focuses especially on operations against Taiwan. This fleet had hitherto received neither an aircraft carrier nor an LHD.
Displacing approximately 36,000t, Guangxi had been launched on 22 April 2020 and it commenced sea trials in December that year.
The first-of-class Type 075 Hainan
Our news & analysis is now part of Defence Insight®
A Basic-level or higher Defence Insight subscription is now required to view this content.
More from Naval Warfare
-
From the Baltic to the Gulf: where USV procurement is heading next
Saildrone’s new Copenhagen base is one sign of a larger shift, as navies globally turn to uncrewed vessels for surveillance and mine clearance.
-
Israeli Navy looks to expand as war reshapes future force requirements
Israel’s navy is preparing for a larger and more technically diverse role, but its ambitions could be impacted by supply chain restrictions, accelerating demand for domestic naval production as well as autonomous maritime capabilities.
-
Quantum sensing gathers pace as navies eye undersea advantage
As AI dominates defence conversations, industry increasingly points to quantum sensing as the technology set to change submarine and uncrewed underwater vehicle operations.
-
Competitive P17B tender marks a shift in Indian Navy frigate procurement
The Indian Navy's P17B programme is expected to combine greater weapons capacity with a competitive domestic construction model, although key systems could remain dependent on international supply chains.
-
How France’s SNLE 3G programme is reshaping the naval nuclear industrial base
Extending far beyond a four-submarine replacement programme, France’s ballistic missile submarine effort is a decades-long industrial initiative designed to preserve the country’s ability to build and sustain nuclear-powered strategic platforms.
-
Quantum Systems enters maritime domain with Baltic-focused USV and UUV
Quantum Systems has launched into the maritime domain with Seavex and Subvex, aiming to close a Baltic Sea ISR gap opened by infrastructure sabotage.