Thread by @SinoTalk

On June 24th, the Type 076 LHA, the Sichuan, completed its fourth sea trial in the Yellow Sea and returned to Qingdao Naval Base. The ship departed its home port of Zhanjiang on the 6th and transited the Taiwan Strait before arriving at the naval base three days later.

The sea trial likely involved the vessel conducting launch and take off tests of the GJ-21 and KVD-002 Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) as well as the Z-8L transport helicopter.

The vessel likely also conducted an underwater explosion shock test to verify the ship’s ability to withstand forces from nearby blasts caused by munitions such as bombs, mines, and torpedoes.

The fourth sea trial enabled the PLA Navy (PLAN) to further validate the Sichuan’s ability to operate UAVs and Z-8Ls from its flight deck. The Sichuan will also likely conduct additional sea trials in the Yellow Sea to verify the ship’s systems before being commissioned.

The sea trial was conducted to verify the GJ-21’s and KVD-002’s ability to take off from and land on the Sichuan’s flight deck.

Specifically, the tests focused on validating the drones’ ability to take off from the LHA’s flight deck using its EMALS systems in a realistic environment. The PLAN also used the trial to practice landing UAVs on the ship's flight deck using its drone command center.

These tests involved the Sichuan’s command center operating the drones from airfields to validate its ability to adequately control them at long ranges.

The ability for the UAVs to operate from the Sichuan’s flight deck is important because they would conduct various missions, ranging from reconnaissance and Suppression of Enemy Air Defense (SEAD) to conducting airstrikes against targets in support of amphibious operations.

The Sichuan also completed tests with the Z-8L to verify its ability to operate transport helicopters that would conduct air assault or armed escort missions. The Sichuan will continue to operate from Qingdao to enable it to conduct additional sea trials in the Yellow Sea.

The PLAN conducts sea trials of its aircraft carriers in the Yellow Sea that consist of integration tests of aircraft and drones because of the benefits of operating in the area.

For instance, the PLAN can utilize the various airfields and other facilities that are adjacent to the Yellow Sea to support the carriers’ and Sichuan’s sea trials.

The PLAN would also use the area's facilities as emergency landing sites if the ship encounters a problem during tests. The Yellow Sea also enables the PLAN to conduct the sea trials in relative isolation.