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New Chinese ship
causes alarm
POWER PROJECTION: By as early as 2014, the
Chinese navy could have at its disposal a vessel that could dramatically change
the face of an amphibious attack on Taiwan
By J. Michael Cole / Staff reporter
A 22,000-tonne landing helicopter dock (LHD) under development in China has
sparked alarm in defense circles in Taiwan, with some analysts saying the ship
could cause a “strategic shift” in the Taiwan Strait.
The design, first unveiled by state-owned China Shipbuilding Industry Co (CSIC,
中國船舶重工集團公司) — the country’s largest shipbuilding conglomerate — at the Defense
and Security 2012 exhibition in Bangkok in early March, is believed to be the
Type 081 LHD that defense enthusiasts have been expecting for years.
According to Jane’s Defence Weekly, CSIC confirmed the existence of a Type 081
program in 2007, but at the time it refused to disclose further details. The
design phase of the vessel was reportedly completed in 2006, with engineering
design beginning soon afterwards.
The 211m long LHD will be capable of carrying an impressive eight helicopters on
deck, with hangar space for four more, or for hovercraft. It will also have
capacity to accommodate 1,068 marines and will be equipped with phased-array
radar, four short-range air-defense launchers and anti-submarine warfare
capability.
Its operational range is expected to be 7,000 nautical miles (13,000km), with an
endurance of up to 30 days at sea.
The Type 081 was reportedly inspired by the Mistral-class amphibious assault
ship operated by the French Navy. Some analysts have also pointed to
similarities with the 18,000-tonne Hyuga-class helicopter carrier used by the
Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force since 2009.
Defense analysts say CSIC is fully capable of building the LHD, especially
following the experience gained by Chinese shipbuilders with three 20,000-tonne
Type 071 Yuzhao-class amphibious transport docks, the last of which was launched
in September, with a fourth rumored to be on the way. Despite having a similar
displacement to the Type 081, the Type 071 can only accommodate two Z-8 heavy
transport helicopters.
Assuming that the timeframe for construction of the Type 081 is similar to that
for the Type 071, the first Type 081 could be launched as early as 2014. China’s
first Type 071 was launched in December 2006, two years after the model was
first unveiled.
Some reports indicate that the People’s Liberation Army Navy might be seeking to
acquire as many as three Type 081s for its operations.
The Chinese government has yet to confirm whether CSIC has begun construction of
the Type 081.
Given its ability to carry various types of helicopters — Z-8 and Z-9 transport
and Z-10 attack helicopters, among others — a large number of marines and
landing craft, analysts are saying that the Type 081 would greatly enhance the
Chinese navy’s ability to launch humanitarian operations as well as project
force beyond its shores, a reflection of the strategic choices made by the
Chinese navy in recent years.
It would also play a key, possibly game-changing role in any amphibious assault
on Taiwan or against other adversaries in the South China Sea.
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