China’s first 076 ‘drone carrier’ amphibious assault ship begins sea trials

China’s first drone-carrying Type 076 amphibious assault ship, the Sichuan, began sea trials on Friday, according to state news agency Xinhua.

The ship, launched in December last year, is seen as a key asset for the PLA Navy’s unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) operations because of its electromagnetic catapult launch system and is often described as the world’s first drone carrier.