China Planning New Type 055 Large Destroyers with Expanded Capabilities

China is reportedly planning to build new Type 055 large destroyers with expanded capabilities, as the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy continues intensive training with its existing fleet.

According to China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC), the PLA Navy currently operates eight Type 055 destroyers. The company hinted at future ships with improved systems in a recent post on Weibo.

Three Type 055 destroyers—Nanchang, Zunyi, and Yan'an—are conducting separate training exercises in the Yellow Sea, South Pacific, and South China Sea. The Nanchang recently carried out live-fire drills, including sea attacks, air defense, anti-submarine warfare, and nuclear defense.

The Zunyi, along with a Type 054A frigate and a Type 903 replenishment vessel, operated about 570 nautical miles southeast of Perth, Australia. Meanwhile, the Yan'an participated in a combat support exercise in the South China Sea, receiving replenishment from supply ships.

The Type 055 (Renhai)-class destroyer displaces over 12,000 tonnes at full load, is 180 m long, and has a beam of 20 m, making it larger than the U.S. Navy’s 10,000-tonne Ticonderoga-class cruisers, which are 173 m long with a 17 m beam.

Its principal armament is a 112-cell vertical launch system (VLS) with 64 cells forward of the bridge and 48 cells forward of the hangar, using universal silos like the Type 052D-class destroyers. The VLS can launch HHQ-9 surface-to-air missiles, YJ-18 anti-ship missiles, Yu-8 anti-submarine missiles, CJ-10 land-attack cruise missiles, and YJ-21 "carrier killer" missiles.

The Type 055 is also equipped with AESA and X-band radars and an integrated radio frequency system.