China is adding very large Ukrainian-made Zubr hovercraft-type amphibious warfare vessels to their navy:
Nearly four-stories-high, the 555-ton LCAC could be a game-changer in amphibious operations within the region. The data sheet speaks for itself. According to various sources, the Zubr has a range of 380 nautical miles (480 km), can remain at sea for five days before replenishment, and can travel at up to 60 knots (55 knots for sustained cruising). Its payload capacity, at approximately 150 tons, is more than twice that of the LCACs in service in the U.S. and Japanese military, meaning that it can carry the equivalent of three main battle tanks (e.g., Type-80); 10 armored vehicles (e.g., BMP-2); 10 armored personnel carriers (e.g., BTR-70); or eight amphibious tanks. Meanwhile, its four compartments can accommodate 140 troops, or over 350 without armor.
These weapons have been in the pipeline for some time.
But we're not standing still with South China Sea capabilities. And we know amphibious warfare.
And the South China Sea isn't the safest place for Chinese naval power to sail, really.
UPDATE: Obviously, it is just the ground fight that would be tiny. The Air-sea component could be huge.
