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| An artist's impression of PLAN's future Type 075 LHD |
According to our source in China, the steel cutting of the first Type 075 Landing Helicopter Dock (LHD) for the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN or Chinese Navy) is expected to take place by the first quarter of 2017.
China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC) is said to have been awarded the contract and will therefore act as prime contractor. CSSC is one of the two largest shipbuilding conglomerates in China (the other being the China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation - CSIC). CSSC is one of the top 10 defence groups in China, consists of various ship yards, equipment manufacturers, research institutes and shipbuilding related companies, some of the well known shipbuilders in China such as Jiangnan Shipyard and Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding are currently owned by CSSC.
The Type 075 LHD is expected to have a displacement of 36,000 tons. In comparison, a Mistral-class LHD displaces 21,000 tons full load, the Juan Carlos LHD 26,000 tons and the Wasp-class 40,500 tons.
Read the full story at Navy Recognition