076 enters the stage: China showcases its amphibious power in seas of tension
At a time when displays of force intertwine with silent messages of deterrence, the movements of the Chinese navy no longer appear as routine maneuvers, but rather as part of a deliberate reshaping of the balance of maritime dominance in Asia.
The integration of “075” class amphibious assault ships with “055” class destroyers, endowed with advanced defensive and offensive capabilities, reflects Beijing’s shift from a coastal defense logic to a long-range power projection strategy, in which disputed islands and maritime supply chains become genuine testing grounds.
While Washington watches this acceleration with measured concern, China sends a clear signal that superiority is no longer determined by numbers alone, but by the navy’s ability to operate in an integrated and sustained manner within complex conflict environments.
The Southern Theater Command of the People’s Liberation Army Navy deployed a naval task force centered on the “075” class amphibious assault ship Hainan, including the “903” class replenishment ship Lumahe, the “055” class destroyer Yan’an, and the “054” class frigate Yuyang.
Military Watch magazine reported that the task force conducted multidisciplinary naval exercises, noting that the “055” and “075” classes rank among the most prominent new warships in the fleet, providing a wide range of advanced capabilities for operations on the high seas.
The “075” class ships are among the largest helicopter carriers in the world, rivaled only by the US Navy’s America class. They can deploy up to thirty aircraft to perform a broad spectrum of missions, ranging from airborne assault operations to anti-submarine warfare.
Images taken during the exercises confirm the deployment of air-cushioned landing craft from the “075” class ships, which can be used to conduct amphibious landings under the protection of the multilayered air defense systems of the “055” class destroyers, with additional helicopter support.
Each “075” class ship displaces around 40,000 tons and measures 232 meters in length. It can carry up to 800 personnel and 60 armored vehicles, as well as two “726” class landing craft.
With the support of “903A” class replenishment ships, a task force composed of a “075” class assault ship and a “055” class destroyer can operate for several months. Its capabilities are considered vital in the East China Sea and the South China Sea, where landing forces on disputed islands could prove decisive for the war effort.
Currently, four “075” class ships are in service, while the “076” class, an improved version capable of deploying fixed-wing drones, saw the launch of its first vessel in December 2024.
China’s amphibious assault fleet already significantly outperforms its American counterpart and is expected to surpass the size of the US Navy in the 2030s, given its rapid rate of growth.
The US Navy currently operates only two modern America-class assault ships, in addition to seven older Wasp-class vessels dating back to the Cold War.
Although the United States is developing a destroyer equivalent to China’s “055” class, these ships are unlikely to enter service before the late 2030s, if they do at all.
The “055” class is currently regarded as the most powerful class of destroyers in the world, with eight ships already in service and two more expected to join the fleet in 2026.
