[Llarry]

The mission for the Chinese Navy's new 40,000-ton amphibious assault carrier is now a bit easier to speculate about. It may have a considerable airborne attack role as well as carrying troops and helicopters.

The Sichuan (LHD 51) has undergone preliminary sea trials, but I've not yet seen photos of aircraft operations from this large carrier.

The special characteristic of this type 076 LHD is that it has a single catapult and arresting gear. These are probably meant to be used by drones. The Sichuan could combine an air attack drone mission with a troop-carrying mission.

See the attached speculative deck load with GJ-11 stealth attack drones along with Z-20 helicopters in both anti-submarine and troop-carrying form.

The GJ-11 is fairly large: 47-foot span and 40 feet long. It has weapons bays on either side of the single engine, each of which can probably carry a 1,000 kg weapon,