GUANGZHOU, China — China is expanding Type 071 amphibious transport dock (LPD) production to a second shipyard, with two new vessels under construction at the COMEC shipyard in Guangzhou. The move expands the People’s Liberation Army Navy’s (PLAN) shipbuilding capacity beyond Hudong-Zhonghua Shipyard in Shanghai, which previously built all Type 071 vessels.
Satellite imagery dated October 4, 2026, shows two hulls at an advanced stage of construction at COMEC, formally CSSC Offshore and Marine Engineering, also known as Guangzhou Shipyard International (GSI), on Longxue Island. The drydock is approximately two kilometres south of the yard’s primary naval facilities and has received a new full-gantry crane. One hull is nearing structural completion, with its main sensor mast and most of its superstructure fitted. The first vessel could launch by late 2026 or early 2027, followed by the second a few months later.
Type 071 Capabilities
The 210-metre-long Type 071, designated the Yuzhao-class by the US Office of Naval Intelligence, displaces approximately 22,000 to 25,000 tonnes fully loaded. Its configuration is comparable to the US San Antonio-class and British Albion-class amphibious ships.
The vessel can carry up to 800 marines and deploy four Type 726 Yuyi-class air-cushioned landing craft through its well deck. Aviation facilities include a two-spot flight deck and a hangar for up to four Z-8 heavy transport helicopters. Its armament includes a 76mm AK-176 gun, four 30mm AK-630 close-in weapon systems (CIWS) and multiple decoy launchers.
The Type 071 has also been used for testing and integration of a laser-based directed energy weapon (DEW), with ships including Simingshan and Qilianshan undergoing modifications to support these systems.
Production Expands Beyond Shanghai
Hudong-Zhonghua delivered eight Type 071 vessels to the PLAN between 2007 and 2020 and built one export vessel for the Royal Thai Navy. The shipyard launched another hull in late August 2026 and has two more under construction. Combined with the two Guangzhou hulls, at least five additional Type 071s are under construction or fitting out for the PLAN.
The expansion follows a similar approach for Type 903 fleet replenishment oilers. COMEC and Hudong built the first nine vessels between 2005 and 2019, while Wuhu Shipyard in Anhui province joined production of a new batch of at least five ships, launching three over the past two years.
COMEC’s Growing Naval Role
COMEC has built mobile shore-connector barges for large-scale landings, two classes of submarine support ships and Type 903A oilers. It is also constructing two large fleet replenishment vessels designed to succeed the Type 901 and recently launched the second variant of a suspected unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) mothership.
Hudong continues to build the Type 071, Type 075 landing helicopter dock (LHD) and the new Type 076 catapult-equipped amphibious carrier. It also shares production of Type 054A and Type 054B frigates and Chinese Coast Guard cutters with Guangzhou’s Huangpu shipyard.
The expansion reflects a broader shift in Chinese naval construction. While production of traditional surface combatants such as destroyers and frigates has temporarily slowed, output of amphibious, auxiliary and submarine platforms is increasing. Earlier in 2026, the Jiangnan shipyard in Shanghai launched its first nuclear-powered attack submarine using newly developed facilities.
The additional Type 071 production capacity is expected to support the PLAN’s continued expansion of its amphibious fleet and sustained maritime operations.
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