New satellite images unveil China's colossal amphibious drone carrier plans

China is building enormous amphibious ships that surpass the displacement of America-class units. Photos of the docks where the first ship, Type 076, is being constructed revealed this. New satellite images reveal that something concerning has appeared near the construction site.

It is an installation resembling Chinese mock-ups used for training. The shape, reminiscent of a fragment of the flight deck with its very large width, suggests that it is a mock-up of the Type 076 ship currently being built. Recently, unusual shapes have appeared on its makeshift deck.

These are most likely mock-ups of Chinese Hongdu GJ-11 Sharp Sword attack drones. These stealth unmanned aerial vehicles, which have been in development for over a decade, are intended for precision strikes and reconnaissance missions. Their estimated payload capacity reaches 2,000 kilograms, and weapons can be carried in two internal bays.

The GJ-11 is just over 12 metres long and has a wingspan of 14 metres. It is designed in a flying wing configuration. In the future, machines of this type may perform the role of loyal wingmen or be controlled by the second crew member of the new two-seater version of the J-20 aircraft.

The presence of unmanned aerial vehicle mock-ups indicates that China is building future amphibious ships with an aviation component consisting of new unmanned aerial vehicles. Their estimated length exceeds 252 metres, and the deck width reaches 48 metres. The displacement of units in this class is estimated at 53,000 tonnes.

The capabilities of both the ships and the drones launched from them are expected to be further enhanced by the fact that the new ships will be equipped with catapults. In practice, the new units will be equivalent to large CATOBAR-class aircraft carriers for unmanned aerial vehicles, similar to the American Nimitz and Gerald R. Ford classes, the French Charles de Gaulle, or the latest Chinese aircraft carrier Fujian.