China would be the third country to operate a drone carrier. Two others — Turkiye and Iran — have adapted existing ships to launch aerial drones.

Axar.az informs, citing Business Insider, drone carriers are a relatively new concept previously reserved for science fiction and defense industry trade shows. They capitalize on the growing reach of drones and the ability of a large ship to rapidly launch them near an enemy's shores.

The specifics of what constitutes a drone carrier and its military value are hotly debated, much as other ship classes have been in history.

Turkiye is the first country to claim the commissioning of a drone carrier. Ordered in 2015, launched in 2018, and commissioned in 2023, TCG Anadolu is 757 feet long and displaces 27,436 tons. It is the Turkish Navy's most advanced vessel and current flagship.

On February 6, Iran became the second country to claim the commissioning of a drone carrier. The vessel, known as the Shahid Bahman Bagheri, is a converted container ship.

China's entry into the drone carrier race was launched on December 27. Named Sichuan, the ship is based on China's Type 075-class amphibious assault ship, and has been modified for better flight ops, including changes like the positioning of its elevators and two command islands.

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