Type 076 apparition emerges from the Chinese mist
Speculation has been rife on the internet about an innovative new class of ship for the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN): a landing helicopter dock (LHD) vessel, labelled as the Type 076, that is able to launch and recover fixed-wing aircraft.
It is not yet fully clear that China actually is developing such a class, which would complement Type 075 LHDs currently in production.
However, suspicions gained momentum when respective RfPs emerged online in China on 19 July for such features as UAVs, an electromagnetic aircraft launch system (EMALS), advanced arresting gear, integrated electric propulsion, a 30t elevator, and 21MW
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