The Navy of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army conducted a landing exercise involving a Type 726A “Yema” air-cushion landing craft and the amphibious assault ship Yimengshan, hull number 988.
The maneuvers took place on July 6, 2026, and were captured in images released by Chinese forces. The training showed the Type 726A operating near the Yimengshan and carrying out procedures to approach the floodable well deck installed at the stern of the ship.
This compartment allows landing craft to enter and leave the ship while it is at sea, facilitating the transport of military personnel, vehicles, and equipment between the naval force and coastal areas.
Known internationally by the acronym LCAC, the air-cushion craft travels over a layer of air produced by its propulsion systems. This configuration reduces direct contact with the surface and allows operations in shallow waters, on beaches, and over coastal terrain where conventional vessels would face greater limitations.
Type 726A can transport armored vehicles
The Type 726 family has an approximate displacement of 160 tons, a length of 33 meters, and a width of 16.8 meters. According to published data on the model, two gas turbines allow it to reach speeds of up to 80 knots, equivalent to approximately 148 km/h.
Its estimated operational range is 320 kilometers. With a crew of five military personnel, the craft can transport between 60 and 70 fully equipped troops.
Depending on the mission configuration, its cargo area can also accommodate two ZBD-05 amphibious infantry fighting vehicles or one Type 96 main battle tank.
Its high speed allows the main ship to remain farther from the coast while the smaller craft complete the final stage of the journey. This combination reduces the time required to transport personnel and vehicles and increases the flexibility of the naval group during amphibious exercises.
The Chinese Navy is believed to operate more than 40 units from the Type 726 family, although the figures may vary depending on the versions considered and the available sources.
Yimengshan is part of the Type 071 class
Commissioned in 2016, the Yimengshan is the fourth ship of the Type 071 class, known by the designation “Yuzhao” in the classification system of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
China keeps eight ships of this class in service. The first vessel entered operation in 2007.
Type 071 ships displace approximately 25,000 tons, measure 210 meters in length, and are 28 meters wide. Their maximum speed is estimated at 25 knots, while their operational range can reach 10,000 nautical miles, equivalent to around 18,500 kilometers.
The regular crew consists of approximately 120 military personnel, but the ship can carry up to 800 fully equipped troops. Its floodable well deck can accommodate up to four Type 726 craft, as well as dozens of amphibious armored vehicles.
The flight deck allows two medium-sized helicopters to operate simultaneously, while the internal hangar can accommodate up to four aircraft in this category. This configuration makes it possible to combine sea and air transport during the same operation.
Type 071 protection systems
For self-protection, ships of this class use one 76 mm H/PJ-26 naval gun and four automatic 30 mm H/PJ-13 systems intended for close-in defense.
The configuration also includes four sets of Type 726-4 countermeasure launchers, used to make it more difficult for hostile sensors to identify or track the ship.
The exercise highlights the integration between China’s large amphibious ships and their high-speed landing craft. In addition to demonstrating the equipment’s capabilities, this type of training helps improve navigation procedures, coordination between crews, entry into the floodable well deck, and cargo handling at sea.
+ Ora Ballet Cat, known as the “Chinese Beetle,” receives upgrades for 2026
Source and images: Sun Zhonghao / Chinese People’s Liberation Army. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
