The Type 724 Landing Craft Air-Cushion (LCAC) is the first indigenous air cushion landing craft in operational use with People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN), and its origin dates back to the early 1960s, when 7th Academy was assigned to lead the developmental work on air cushioned vehicles for a 10-year plan lasting from 1963 to 1972.

Although in Chinese military service, they mainly served as trial units to test out the feasibility of deploying air cushioned vehicles, instead of being used operationally as part of the amphibious forces.

However, due to political turmoil in China, namely, Cultural Revolution, program was delayed more than a decade.

The requirement of Type 724 was once again proposed after the end of Cultural Revolution, but in the era of Chinese economic reform, military projects were put on backseats, and the program was once again delayed for another decade.

Designed by the Shanghai-based 708 Institute to ferry marine troops from amphibious warfare ships to shore,[1] the Type 724 LCAC is powered by two BF12L913C diesels rated at 380 hp, which provide power to drive the air-cushion blowers and the air propellers located within ring shrouds at the back of the ship giving the craft at a top speed of 40 knots.