An advanced stealth attack drone may have been photographed on the Chinese navy’s amphibious assault ship Sichuan, possibly marking another step towards the commissioning of the Type 076 naval vessel that is expected to play a key role in the Taiwan Strait.
Photos circulating on Chinese social media since Saturday purportedly show the Sichuan leaving its home port in Shanghai. In one of the images, a carrier-based aircraft draped in green cloth can be seen resting on the deck.
The Type 076 is equipped with an electromagnetic catapult system, similar to the technology installed on the Fujian , China’s third and most advanced aircraft carrier, which officially entered service in November last year.
The advanced electromagnetic system enables faster and more frequent launches, and means that aircraft can carry more fuel and ammunition.
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China’s first 076 ‘drone carrier’ amphibious assault ship begins sea trials
China’s first 076 ‘drone carrier’ amphibious assault ship begins sea trials
Some observers suggested that the mysterious covered aircraft in the image could be China’s fixed-wing stealth attack drone, potentially indicating that the Sichuan had entered the large drones testing phase of its sea trials.