China Expands Construction Of Type 071 Amphibious Warfare Ships To Guangzhou

A Type 071 landing platform dock, or LPD, is an amphibious warfare ship. Its purpose is to support large-scale landings by bringing troops, vehicles, and landing craft close to a coast. It combines transport space with facilities for launching forces from the sea.

The design includes a well deck, an internal area that can flood with seawater. Landing craft or amphibious vehicles can enter this space, load personnel and equipment, and then move out toward shore. The ship can therefore act as a central sea-based launch point rather than relying only on port facilities.

The article identifies the Type 071 as approximately 22,000 tons and 210 metres long. China has built eight for the PLAN and one for Thailand. New hulls at Hudong and COMEC indicate that China is continuing to expand this amphibious capability.

The Type 071 is a large amphibious ship, measuring 210 metres overall and displacing approximately 22,000 tons. Those dimensions place it among the major landing ships operated by modern navies. Its size gives it room for a well deck, vehicles, troops, and aviation facilities.

The article says Hudong-Zhonghua has built eight Type 071 ships for the Chinese Navy and one for the Royal Thai Navy. That makes nine existing vessels. Hudong has also launched one additional hull and has two more under construction in Shanghai. COMEC in Guangzhou is building two hulls side by side.

The article concludes that at least five more Type 071s will join the Chinese Navy: three associated with Hudong's renewed work and two at COMEC. One Guangzhou hull may launch by the end of 2026 or early 2027, with the second following within months.

The major change is industrial rather than a redesign of the ship. Hudong-Zhonghua in Shanghai previously built every existing Type 071, including eight for the PLAN and one for Thailand. COMEC, formally CSSC Offshore and Marine Engineering, has now joined that work.

Satellite imagery from 4 October 2026 showed two Type 071 hulls side by side at COMEC's Longxue facility. Both were at an advanced construction stage. One had a main sensor mast and most of its superstructure fitted. The drydock is about two kilometres south of COMEC's primary naval-building facilities and has received modernization, including a full gantry crane.

This gives China a second location for building the same amphibious ship. Hudong has also resumed production, with one hull launched in late August and two more under construction. The change could support at least five additional PLAN ships and broaden COMEC's naval-building portfolio.

A well deck gives an amphibious ship a sheltered internal space for launching landing craft. Instead of keeping those craft permanently exposed on the deck, the ship can bring them inside and prepare them for an operation. This supports movement from sea to shore.

The mechanism is straightforward. The dock can be flooded so landing craft enter through the stern. Troops, vehicles, and supplies can be loaded aboard those craft inside the ship. The water is then controlled as the craft depart, carrying the landing force toward the beach or another landing point.

The article describes the Type 071 as a well deck-equipped design similar in role and configuration to the American San Antonio class and British Albion class. Its approximately 22,000-ton hull therefore combines a large transport role with a sea-based launch facility. That arrangement helps coordinate amphibious operations without requiring an existing port.

Using COMEC alongside Hudong expands the industrial base available for amphibious shipbuilding. It matters because China can work on Type 071 hulls at two locations instead of concentrating every vessel at one Shanghai yard. More building space can support a larger fleet over time.

The evidence is already visible. COMEC has two advanced Type 071 hulls side by side at Longxue. Hudong has resumed construction, launching one hull in late August and keeping two more under construction. The article therefore identifies at least five additional Type 071s expected to join the PLAN.

The exact production rate is not stated, so the final effect cannot be measured yet. However, one COMEC hull may launch by the end of 2026 or early 2027, and the second should follow within months. The new site could help China sustain amphibious expansion while Hudong focuses on other major ships, including Type 075 and Type 076 vessels.

Renewed Type 071 construction fits a broader shift in China's naval production. The article says surface combatant construction, including frigates and destroyers, appears to have slowed significantly for now. Yet several other naval categories are receiving sustained attention.

Hudong continues amphibious work, including Type 071 LPDs, Type 075 LHDs, and the new Type 076 catapult-equipped amphibious carrier. COMEC has built auxiliaries, amphibious barges, submarine support ships, and large replenishment vessels. Jiangnan also launched its first nuclear-powered attack submarine for the PLAN from newer facilities.

This mix shows that naval modernization is not limited to frontline destroyers and frigates. At least five more Type 071s are indicated, while COMEC and Hudong are also involved with replenishment oilers. The article says the surge in submarines, auxiliaries, and amphibious ships indicates continued Chinese naval expansion over the next few years.

Modern navies need different ships for different jobs. Destroyers and frigates are surface combatants, while amphibious ships transport forces for landing operations. Replenishment oilers carry fuel and other supplies, allowing naval forces to remain active for longer periods.

The Type 071 illustrates the amphibious role. Its well deck supports movement from ship to shore, and its large hull is suited to carrying troops, vehicles, and landing craft. Type 903 and Type 903A oilers illustrate the support role. COMEC and Hudong produced an initial batch of nine, while at least five more are being built with Wuhu joining the effort.

The article shows why these categories matter together. China is expanding amphibious ships, replenishment vessels, submarine support ships, and other auxiliaries, even as frigate and destroyer construction appears slower. A navy requires both combat power and the transport and supply ships that make wider operations possible.