Show of amphibious force in South China Sea

The People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) featured one of its Zubr-class landing craft air cushion (LCAC) for the first time in an amphibious landing exercise, Chinese state television CCTV reported on 20 July.

China debuts Zubr LCAC in show of amphibious force in South China Sea

Ridzwan Rahmat, Singapore and Andrew Tate, London – IHS Jane’s Navy International

The People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) featured one of its Zubr-class landing craft air cushion (LCAC) for the first time in an amphibious landing exercise, Chinese state television CCTV reported on 20 July.

IHS Jane’s understands that the drill was conducted on Hainan Island, which is in the South China Sea and the main location for the PLAN’s South Sea Fleet bases.

While it is not clear whether it was from the same exercise, other CCTV footage shows the LCAC being transported and unloaded from the PLAN’s new semi-submersible heavy lift ship Donghaidao (868). Construction of this ship was reported by IHS Jane’s in early June and the ship was commissioned into the PLAN’s South Sea Fleet on 10 July.

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Source: IHS Janes.