The pace of construction has drawn particular attention, as the first hull sections were placed in October 2023 and the launch followed on 27 December of the same year. This means the shipyard completed a large and complex vessel in just over a year, a timeline described in the report as impossible to match in European conditions.
Before leaving the yard basin, Sichuan underwent all required mooring trials, including checks of electronic systems and software. Current trials in the East China Sea will test general ship systems, propulsion and power arrangements, as well as overall stability.
The ship features a full-length flight deck similar to earlier Type 075 vessels, but its superstructure is split into two separate blocks. The forward block houses the command bridge, while the aft block accommodates flight control and air traffic management for operations around the ship.
Each superstructure element also contains air intakes and exhausts, and the ship carries an electromagnetic catapult running along the port edge of the flight deck. The 116 metre system is longer than that fitted to the Fujian aircraft carrier and enables the launch of conventional combat aircraft or large unmanned systems such as the Hongdu GJ-11 and Guizhou WZ-7.
Sichuan has a full displacement of around 50,000 tonnes and a hull measuring 252.3 metres by 45 metres. Its flight deck covers more than 13,500 square metres and includes three arrestor gear sets for recovering aircraft.
The ship uses two aircraft lifts positioned outside the deck outline, a change from the internal lifts of earlier Chinese assault ships and a layout similar to American America and Wasp class vessels. Its integrated electric propulsion system replaces earlier diesel-only arrangements and includes two 21 MW gas turbines and six 6 MW diesel generators.
Radar and electronic suites resemble those on the newest Type 054B frigates, including an E/F band primary radar on the forward mast and an I band radar housed in a cone-shaped structure on the aft superstructure. The same mast holds antennas for electronic warfare systems, covering COMINT, ELINT and TACAN functions.
Defensive armament consists of three 24-cell HQ-10 launchers and three H/PJ-11X 30 mm close-in weapon systems fitted with the latest tracking radar. The ship also carries four 32-tube launchers for multispectral decoys.
Sichuan can embark up to 1,000 fully equipped troops for landing operations. They can reach shore using two Type 726A air-cushion landing craft carried in the well deck or by the ship’s complement of helicopters.
