China commissions fourth Type 075 amphibious assault ship Hubei to launch more helicopter-led raids.

On August 1, 2025, during the 98th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA), China officially confirmed the commissioning of its fourth Type 075 amphibious assault ship. The vessel has been named Hubei and assigned the hull number 34. The Southern Theater Command posted images and a statement showing the ship's crew swearing an oath to the military flag. State media reported that Hubei participated in maritime exercises in the South China Sea alongside the first Type 075 ship, Hainan, four Type 071 amphibious landing ships, and Type 726 air-cushioned landing craft. The official announcement confirms that the ship is assigned to the Southern Theater Command and is now operational.
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The Hubei, like its sister ships, displaces between 35,000 to 40,000 tons and measures 232 meters in length with a beam of 36.8 meters. It features a full-length flight deck with seven landing spots, supporting up to 30 helicopters including Z-8, Z-20, and potentially Z-18 variants. (Picture source: Chinese MoD)

The Hubei was launched at the Hudong-Zhonghua shipyard in Shanghai on December 14, 2023. It was spotted undergoing outfitting and trials throughout the first half of 2024. By May 2025, the ship had its hull number painted and was seen moored in a southern naval base next to the Hainan. Reports from February 2024 indicated that the Hubei was undergoing sea trials in undisclosed locations. On May 10, 2025, OSINT images confirmed the ship had arrived in Zhanjiang, appearing alongside the destroyer He Fei (987) and the Hainan. While some unofficial sources claimed the ship had already entered service by that time, no confirmation was issued by Chinese authorities until August 1. The vessel is now active and forms part of China’s expanding fleet of large-deck amphibious platforms intended for expeditionary and amphibious operations.

The Hubei is the fourth ship in the Type 075 class, which is classified either as a landing helicopter dock-class or an amphibious assault ship-class, following Hainan (hull number 31), Guangxi (32), and Anhui (33). The Hainan was launched in September 2019 and commissioned in April 2021. The Guangxi was launched in April 2020 and entered service in December 2021. The Anhui was launched in January 2021 and commissioned in November 2022. All four ships were built at Hudong-Zhonghua Shipyard. Chinese state sources have indicated that a total of eight ships of this class may be completed by the end of the decade. These platforms are being introduced alongside other amphibious capabilities, including renewed production of Type 726 LCACs and conventional landing craft, as well as continued construction of Type 071 amphibious transport docks. A more advanced successor class, the Type 076, was launched in December 2024 with an electromagnetic catapult and expanded flight operations capability.

The Hubei displaces between 35,000 and 40,000 tons at full load and measures 232 meters in length and 36.8 meters in width. It uses a CODAD propulsion system with four 16PC2-6B diesel engines producing 48,000 kW, enabling a top speed of 23 knots. The ship can accommodate up to 30 helicopters, including Z-8, Z-18, and Z-20 models. It features a through-deck design with seven landing spots: six on the port side and one aft of the island. The hangar is approximately 150 meters long, 20 meters wide, and 6 meters high. The ship includes forward and aft aircraft elevators, a roll-on/roll-off vehicle deck, and a well deck capable of carrying two to three Type 726 air-cushioned landing craft. It can embark approximately 800 to 1,200 marines and 60 armored vehicles, depending on configuration and mission.

The ship's sensor suite includes the H/LJQ-382 long-range 3D radar, H/LJQ-368 X-band active phased array radar, a Type 754 air traffic control radar, Type 347G fire control radar, infrared and television surveillance cameras, and laser rangefinders. Electronic warfare equipment includes H/RJZ-726 series ESM and ECM systems, including radar warning receivers and jamming modules. Its armament includes two HQ-10 short-range surface-to-air missile systems and two H/PJ-11 30mm close-in weapon systems. Each CIWS consists of 11 barrels and is designed for use against incoming missiles and small vessels. As of May 2025, there is no official confirmation that the Type 075 class carries anti-ship missiles such as the YJ-83, although this has been suggested in unofficial commentary. The ship also includes flare and chaff decoys and operates with coordinated support from other PLA Navy platforms, such as the Type 055 destroyers and aircraft carriers.

The commissioning of Hubei highlights the PLA Navy’s continued focus on increasing amphibious assault capabilities. Exercises conducted by the Hainan and its task group in the Western Pacific in 2023 demonstrated coordinated operations between helicopters, landing craft, and marine units. Similar training activities near disputed islands, such as those in the Spratly Islands, have included the presence of the Hainan. The Type 075 class has also been compared with international equivalents. The U.S. Navy’s Wasp-class amphibious assault ships, for instance, displace about 40,500 tons and support short take-off and vertical landing aircraft like the F-35B. The Type 075, while lacking fixed-wing aviation capability, has a faster construction rate and lower production cost. Other regional platforms include Japan’s Izumo-class (27,000 tons) and France’s Mistral-class (21,500 tons), which are smaller and designed for different operational roles.

The operational effectiveness of the Type 075 class, including Hubei, depends on sustained logistical and personnel support. Operating four large-deck amphibious ships requires trained crews, dedicated maintenance facilities, and a robust resupply network. Analysts have raised questions about the sustainability of such a fleet, particularly under conditions of attrition or extended high-intensity operations. The effectiveness of helicopter-based landings is also dependent on overcoming advanced air defense systems, such as those deployed by Taiwan or U.S. forces. In response to these developments, the U.S. Navy has tested directed-energy weapons such as the HELIOS laser system on the USS Preble, aimed at countering drones and similar threats to amphibious ships. The emergence of the Type 075 class adds complexity to the regional security environment and suggests that China’s shipbuilding programs are progressing with a sense of urgency and scale not matched by all peer competitors.