China’s Type 076 Is Shaping Up To Be A Monster Amphibious Warship

Simply having more naval aviation capacity overall would give the PLA Navy added flexibility for various operations closer to the mainland, including a potential military intervention against Taiwan or defending its expansive and largely unrecognized territorial claims in places like the South China Sea. Type 076's could also help project naval and air power further from China's shores, something that has also been a driving factor behind the country's broader carrier ambitions. With work on the Type 076 amphibious ships continuing apace, it may not be long before a clearer picture of what the ship's final configuration will be emerges, offering new clues about its expected capabilities. From what we can already see, the design looks set to have a very wide open flight deck.