China’s naval power projection significantly strengthened this month as official state media confirmed advanced Type 075 amphibious assault ships are now integrating the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Army’s dedicated Z-10 attack helicopter, marking a substantial leap in cross-service joint warfare capabilities.
The Type 075-class vessel, which had its first-in-class sister ship (likely the Type 076) complete its maiden sea trials in mid-November, represents a core component of the PLA Navy’s renewed amphibious assault doctrine. This integration provides a mobile, long-range launch platform for the Z-10, transforming the scope and intensity of potential large-scale maritime operations. By combining the Army’s primary attack rotorcraft with the Navy’s versatile amphibious carrier, defense analysts suggest the platform’s striking power and mission flexibility have been markedly enhanced.
Strategic Shift in Amphibious Warfare
The Type 075, a behemoth displacing around 40,000 tonnes with a distinctive through-deck design, is considered second only to aircraft carriers in the PLA Navy’s order of battle. Its operational design enables a shift from traditional beach-based assaults to a sophisticated three-dimensional warfare approach.
The vessel combines three principal assault modes:
- Vertical Landing: Utilizing a robust complement of transport helicopters (including the Z-8, Z-18, and Z-20) for rapid troop projection.
- Over-the-Horizon Landing: Deploying Type 726A air-cushioned landing craft (ACLC) to swiftly deliver heavy equipment and vehicles.
- Horizontal Landing: Unleashing amphibious armored vehicles directly onto shorelines.
The official confirmation reported by China Central Television marks the first time the PLA has definitively stated the Z-10 attack helicopter will operate from the Type 075, a pairing long anticipated by military observers. While the Z-10 previously conducted shipboard operations from the smaller Type 071 dock landing ship in a joint exercise in 2020, its regular integration aboard the Type 075 signals a permanent expansion of its mission set.
Enhancing Firepower and Collaboration
Military commentator Wang Yunfei emphasized the strategic importance of this integration to the Global Times, noting that the Z-10 is a purpose-built, medium-lift attack helicopter designed for critical frontline fire missions.
“The Z-10 helicopter can provide direct fire support to other Type 075-borne assets, significantly expanding mission scope and intensity through tighter collaboration,” Wang explained.
The PLA fields a large inventory of the Z-10, predominantly within the Army and, to a lesser extent, the Air Force. Making this extensive, readily available asset compatible with the Navy’s premier amphibious vessel highlights a clear institutional push toward stronger joint capability between previously disparate service branches.
The Type 075 class, sometimes referred to as a Landing Helicopter Dock (LHD), can carry dozens of aircraft. Its ability to simultaneously manage massive personnel lift, equipment delivery via advanced ACLCs, and now, dedicated aerial fire suppression, solidifies its role as a critical enabler for large-scale power projection across the Taiwan Strait and further into the Indo-Pacific.
Since April 2021, the PLA Navy has commissioned four Type 075 vessels: Hainan, Guangxi, Anhui, and Hubei, accelerating its ability to execute complex, joint, three-dimensional amphibious operations on a grand scale. This latest Z-10 confirmation underpins a commitment to maximizing the combat effectiveness of these new maritime assets.