China's fourth Type 075 assault ship just passed a major combat test
China’s Hubei, the fourth Type 075 amphibious assault ship operated by the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN), has completed its full combat qualification assessment in the South China Sea, marking a major. . .
China’s Hubei, the fourth Type 075 amphibious assault ship operated by the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN), has completed its full combat qualification assessment in the South China Sea, marking a major step in the ship’s transition toward operational service. The assessment was announced by the PLA Southern Theater Command on Monday and involved a series of combat-oriented drills designed to test both the ship’s equipment and the crew’s ability to respond to rapidly changing scenarios. During the several-day assessment, Hubei’s crew conducted anti-aircraft gunnery drills, successfully using the ship’s weapons to destroy a target drone. The ship also carried out underwater self-defense exercises and other drills requiring different departments to coordinate as a single combat unit. What does the qualification actually mean?For a newly commissioned warship, entering service does not immediately mean the vessel is considered fully combat-ready. The ship and its crew first have to complete prescribed training and undergo assessments designed to determine whether individual departments and the crew as a whole can meet operational requirements. According to the China Military Bugle, the assessment team used the ship’s command system to send scenarios to Hubei’s combat information center. The crew was then required to respond within specified time limits and according to established procedures, with its performance evaluated by the assessment team. The exercise reportedly included as many as 100 individual test scenarios, combining planned combat-oriented situations with surprise challenges introduced by the exercise directorate. That makes the assessment more than a demonstration of individual weapons. It tests whether the ship’s sensors, weapons, command systems and crew can work together under pressure. Chinese military affairs expert Wang Yunfei told theGlobal Timesthat passing the assessment indicates that the ship’s departmental training and integrated exercises have met the required standards, allowing it to move toward combat-ready status. The Type 075’s amphibious roleThe Hubei is the fourth operationalType 075 amphibious assault ship, following the Hainan, Guangxi and Anhui. Carrying hull number 34, Hubei made its public debut in August 2025. Type 075 ships are significantly different from conventional amphibious transport vessels. Their large hulls combine a full-length flight deck with a hangar, vehicle storage areas and a well deck for launching landing craft. The flight deck provides multiplehelicopteroperating positions, while the well deck can accommodate high-speed air-cushioned landing craft. According to Chinese state media, these craft can carry main battle tanks, while the vehicle deck can transport dozens of amphibious armored vehicles. This combination allows the ships to move personnel, vehicles and equipment toward shore while also providing aviation support. A growing amphibious fleetHubei’s qualification comes as China continues expanding its large amphibious warfare fleet. The PLAN currently operates four Type 075 ships, while the Type 076 Sichuan, China’s first ship of the next-generation class, remains in sea trials. The Type 075 is therefore an important part of China’s current amphibious capability. Its ability to combine helicopters, landing craft, vehicles and troops aboard one platform gives the ship considerably more flexibility than conventional amphibious transport ships. For Hubei’s crew, however, passing the qualification assessment is not the end of the training cycle. The Global Times quoted crew member Zhou Zijian as describing the milestone as a new beginning, with further training intended to continue developing the ship’s combat skills. With its full combat qualification now completed, Hubei is expected to move into combat-ready duty and undertake missions in theSouth China Sea, according to the Chinese military expert cited by the Global Times. Get the latest in engineering, tech, space & science - delivered daily to your inbox. Kaif Shaikh is a journalist and writer passionate about turning complex information into clear, impactful stories. His writing covers technology, sustainability, geopolitics, and occasionally fiction. A graduate in Journalism and Mass Communication, his work has appeared in the Times of India and beyond. After a near-fatal experience, Kaif began seeing both stories and silences differently. Outside work, he juggles far too many projects and passions, but always makes time to read, reflect, and hold onto the thread of wonder.