PLA Navy Confirms Type 075 Can Carry Z-10 Helicopters

The PLA Navy’s Type 075 amphibious assault ship can carry Army’s Z-10 helicopter, according to official Chinese media confirmation released Sunday, marking significant advancement in cross-service operational integration. As the PLA Navy’s Type 075 amphibious assault ship can carry Army’s Z-10 helicopter alongside naval aviation assets, this capability demonstrates the People’s Liberation Army’s growing emphasis on joint operations combining Navy amphibious platforms with Army aviation firepower for enhanced combat effectiveness.

China Central Television’s military channel released a comprehensive report Sunday introducing the PLA Navy’s amphibious combat system, centered around the newly sea-trialed Type 076 amphibious assault ship and four operational Type 075 vessels. This report provided the first official confirmation that Z-10 attack helicopters can operate from Type 075 platforms, validating long-standing expert speculation regarding this compatibility.

The Type 075 amphibious assault ship can accommodate dozens of helicopters across various types, including Z-8 and Z-18 transport helicopters, Z-20 utility helicopters, and now-confirmed Z-10 attack helicopters. Additionally, the vessel carries multiple Type 726A air-cushioned landing craft and dozens of amphibious armored vehicles, creating an integrated amphibious warfare system combining vertical and horizontal assault capabilities.

CCTV characterized the Type 075 as core equipment for PLA Navy amphibious landing operations, second only to aircraft carriers in strategic importance. The platform primarily conducts large-scale, long-distance amphibious landing missions, projecting Chinese military power across extended ranges throughout the Indo-Pacific region and potentially beyond.

With full-load displacement approximating 40,000 tons, the Type 075 adopts a straight-through flight deck design maximizing aviation operations efficiency. This configuration integrates helicopter strike capability, air-cushioned craft transportation capacity, and rapid assault vehicle deployment, transforming amphibious operations from traditional horizontal beach landings into sophisticated three-dimensional assaults combining vertical air insertion with surface approaches.

The Type 075 enables fundamental transformation in amphibious warfare methodology, shifting from conventional horizontal landing approaches to integrated three-dimensional operations closely combining vertical air landing and horizontal surface assault. This operational evolution mirrors American amphibious doctrine developed around similar platforms like the Wasp-class and America-class amphibious assault ships.

While this represents the first official media confirmation, the Z-10’s amphibious compatibility was previously indicated through training activities. In August 2020, Z-10 attack helicopters from an army aviation brigade under the PLA 73rd Group Army conducted inter-service maritime coordinated training with the PLA Navy, operating from the Type 071 dock landing ship Yimengshan at an undisclosed sea area.

Military expert Wang Yunfei explained that the Z-10 is a medium-sized dedicated attack helicopter capable of conducting frontline fire assault missions. Its compatibility with Type 075 platforms means other amphibious landing equipment can collaborate with Z-10s, receiving critical fire support while expanding mission scale and complexity significantly beyond operations without dedicated attack helicopter coverage.

The joint operations between PLA Army Z-10 helicopters and PLA Navy Type 075 amphibious assault ships represent another highlight demonstrating the PLA’s increasing cross-service operational capabilities. This integration reflects systematic efforts breaking down traditional service barriers that historically constrained Chinese military effectiveness, moving toward genuinely joint operations matching Western military standards.

Wang noted the PLA maintains a large number of Z-10s within its helicopter fleet, primarily serving with the Army and some with the Air Force. This substantial inventory enables sustained amphibious operations with dedicated attack helicopter support without depleting Army aviation resources needed for land-based missions, providing operational flexibility across multiple theaters simultaneously.

Since April 2021, the PLA Navy has commissioned four Type 075 amphibious assault ships: Hainan, Guangxi, Anhui, and Hubei. This rapid construction and commissioning pace demonstrates Chinese shipbuilding capacity and strategic prioritization of amphibious warfare capabilities, likely driven by Taiwan contingency planning and broader regional power projection requirements.

The Type 075 employs three distinct operational modes: vertical landing utilizing helicopters for troop projection, over-the-horizon landing relying on air-cushioned landing craft for rapid heavy equipment delivery, and horizontal landing involving amphibious armored vehicles launching direct shoreline assaults from ships. This multi-modal approach provides tactical flexibility adapting to varying beach conditions, enemy defenses, and operational objectives.

The Z-10 compatibility significantly enhances Type 075 effectiveness in potential Taiwan invasion scenarios. Attack helicopters provide critical fire support during initial assault phases, suppressing beach defenses, engaging armor counterattacks, and providing close air support for landed forces before airfields are secured enabling fixed-wing aircraft operations from captured facilities.

The report’s focus on the Type 076 amphibious assault ship, which recently completed first sea trials, suggests continued Chinese emphasis on amphibious warfare advancement. The Type 076 reportedly features electromagnetic catapults enabling fixed-wing drone operations, further expanding capabilities beyond the helicopter-centric Type 075 design.

China’s expanding amphibious fleet directly impacts regional military balance, particularly regarding Taiwan and contested South China Sea territories. Four operational Type 075 platforms plus the developing Type 076 provide China with unprecedented amphibious assault capacity, complicating defensive planning for Taiwan and regional allies while enabling Chinese power projection throughout the first and second island chains.

Also read this: Pakistan Navy Achieves Milestone with Anti-Ship Ballistic Missile Test

The Type 075’s approximately 40,000-ton displacement places it comparable to American Wasp-class and smaller than America-class amphibious assault ships. However, the confirmed Z-10 compatibility provides dedicated attack helicopter capability that American platforms achieve through Marine Corps AH-1Z Vipers, demonstrating functional parity despite different service structures.

This official confirmation likely precedes expanded cross-service integration efforts. Future developments may include standardized joint training protocols, dedicated naval Z-10 squadrons, enhanced communication systems enabling seamless Army-Navy coordination, and potentially specialized maritime-optimized Z-10 variants featuring corrosion-resistant materials and folding rotors for more efficient shipboard storage.

Keep connected with us at Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram & TikTok for latest defense happening around the globe.