I haven't been paying much attention to this, so if I need to be corrected, please don't hesitate.
From my understanding: a number of PLANAF units have been reflagged under the PLAAF in the last few years.
So one could reason that the PLANAF is looking to carve out new niches for itself to ensure its continued relevance as an institution, and one way to accomplish that would be to invest in capabilities that will contribute to (future) PLA (expeditionary warfare) requirements.
However . . . such conclusions are inevitably going to make you wonder just what it is the PLA is preparing for?!
As far as I understand it, the PLANAF is looking towards specializing - That is, by focusing "towards the sea".
That's why except certain special mission aircrafts, the PLANAF has been gradually transferring land-based warplanes (e.g. J-11BHs and JH-7/As) to the PLAAF in the past couple years, while retaining aviation elements that are fundamental/crucial to the PLAN's goals (J-15/T/S/D/DTs and J-35) and leaving the rest of the weightlifting to the PLAAF.
It's likely they just want to match USMC capabilities in expeditionary warfare, after all PLA is meant to match the US military by 2049. Such capability will probably also be of great use in a potential pacific war. Plus, this development really makes you wonder what the 076 was designed with in mind as 30-ton aircraft elevators is great for carrying two large drones but could also carry a single F-35B sized fully loaded STOVL fighter jet. Coupled with full length EM catapult to me seems a bit overkill if you only want to launch drones.
Note:
STO = Short take-off
CATO = Catapult-assisted take-off
BAR = Barrier-assisted landing
VL = Vertical landing
Well, if the PLANMC is really looking towards inducting an S/VTOL warplane (manned or unmanned) in the future, I'd say that the 075 LHD can certainly operate it and massively benefit from it (albeit some major resurfacing work needs to be done to reinforce the flight deck against engine exhaust heat, similar to the Izumo CVs).
However, the question comes with the 076 LHD. The LHD already features a full-length EMCAT and an EMAGS - Meaning that the PLANMC could just put a couple J-35s on it, instead of having a specialized S/VTOL warplane.
One possible idea which I could envision would be that this S/VTOL warplane (if it is indeed meant to be developed into an actual, functional, warfighting-capable platform) can conduct both STO and CATO for take-off operations, but only VL for landing operations.
That is:
- On the 075 LHD = STO using the entire length of the flight deck, while VL using the rear section of the flight deck. This is the same as every LHD/LHA/light CV elsewhere.
- On the 076 LHD = CATO using the EMCAT segment of the flight deck, while VL using the rear section of the flight deck.
This means that on the 076 LHD, this S/VTOL warplane only needs the EMCAT segment of the flight deck to conduct take-offs, while only using the rear segment of the flight deck to conduct landings. This should eliminate the problem where the BAR operations on the 076 LHD using the EMAGS would require clearing the entire length of the flight deck from any obstructions (which hinders any CATO operations until the BAR is complete). This would be highly beneficial towards improving the sortie rates for the 076 LHD compared to other flattops of similar type.
Of course, there's also the debate on whether having higher sortie rate is actually crucial for an LHD versus that of a CV(N). The PLAN may see this improvement as insignificant/unnecessary, so this S/VTOL warplane idea may only belong to the archives.
But we'll see.