CNS Sichuan achieves desired results on its maiden sea trial

CNS Sichuan, China's largest and most advanced amphibious assault ship, returned to its shipyard in Shanghai on Sunday afternoon after completing a three-day maiden voyage, according to the People's Liberation Army Navy.

The PLA Navy said in a news statement that engineers checked and verified the reliability and performance of the ship's electric, propulsion and other systems during the sea trial, and achieved desired results. It added that further tests will be made based on the ship's construction plan.

The massive vessel set sail from Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding, a Shanghai-based shipyard of China State Shipbuilding Corp, on its maiden sea trial on Friday morning.

The mooring test and hardware installation work were completed before the maiden voyage.

With a hull code of 51, the Sichuan is the first in the Type 076 class. The ship displaces more than 40,000 metric tons of water and will carry fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters and amphibious landing craft once it enters service.

The vessel is equipped with an electromagnetic launch system, or electromagnetic catapult, which will be used to launch fixed-wing aircraft. This makes the Sichuan the first Chinese amphibious assault ship to have an electromagnetic catapult and be capable of deploying fixed-wing drones. It is also the second Chinese vessel using this world-class technology, following the CNS Fujian aircraft carrier.

Once commissioned, the ship will be able to support a variety of tasks, ranging from amphibious landings to airstrikes and airborne operations.

The PLA Navy currently operates four Type 075 amphibious assault ships, all built at Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding, with each having a full displacement of nearly 40,000 tons and capacity to carry multiple helicopters, landing craft, dozens of tanks and armored vehicles.