In a rare demonstration of China’s maritime strength, three of the state-of-the-art Type 055 destroyers of the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) participated in military drills in three different regions.
The Type 055 Renhai-class destroyer was deployed for three different military drills conducted by the PLAN in regions including China’s Yellow Sea, the contentious South China Sea where Beijing has territorial disputes with multiple Southeast Asian countries, and the Pacific Ocean where it is purportedly expanding its military presence.
Citing a social media post by the PLA Navy on WeChat on March 2, China’s state-owned publication Global Times reported that the Type 055 large destroyer Nanchang, which is part of a destroyer detachment of PLA Northern Theater Command’s Navy, recently carried out an independent, high-intensity, multi-course combat exercise in the Yellow Sea.
Without disclosing the exact dates of the drills, the PLAN said in its announcement that Nanchang carried out live-fire exercises spanning air defense, nuclear defense, anti-submarine warfare, and sea attacks as part of the exercise in the Yellow Sea.
In another recent military drills conducted by the PLAN in the South China Sea, several ships, including the Chaganhu and Qinghaihu supply ships, carried out extensive combat support drills.
Notably, a Type 055 heavy destroyer, the Yan’an, took part in the drill and was resupplied by one of the supply ships, according to a broadcast run by CCTV.
In the third instance, a Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) task group conducted two live-fire drills near Australia and New Zealand.
As previously reported by the EurAsian Times, the PLAN task group included the Type 055 vessel Zunyi, the Jiangkai-class frigate Hengyang, and the Fuchi-class replenishment vessel Weishanhu.
In fact, the exercise drew the ire of both Australia and New Zealand as this was the first time the PLA conducted live-fire drills in international waters between the two Pacific countries and was allegedly held without an adequate prior warning or notice.
However, despite the condemnation, Chinese experts posited that military drills in far-off seas were the new normal and “countries should adapt to the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy’s legitimate voyages at far seas.”
In July 2024, Type-055 class destroyers were deployed to military drills in the South China Sea, which was the first publicly known instance of three Type 055 destroyers participating in the same drill.
However, the deployment of three of these cutting-edge vessels for three different drills in close succession highlights their growing prominence in China’s naval strategy. Earlier, the PLAN demonstrated its might by deploying both its aircraft carriers for military drills in different regions at the same time.
The latest drills with the Type-055 are expected to make China’s rivals take note since it has been positioned as the most advanced warship in the Chinese arsenal. It also stands as a testimony to China’s growing naval ambitions and capabilities, besides demonstrating that the PLAN can despatch its cutting-edge warships to different regions at once, if needed.
“Multiple ships of this class offer the PLA Navy tactical flexibilities in safeguarding national sovereignty, security and interests,” the Global Times report noted.
The PLA Navy has commissioned eight Type 055 destroyers. The first of these advanced ships, named Nanchang, entered service in 2020. An additional seven vessels of this class have since entered operational service with the PLA Navy, including Lhasa (pennant number 102), Anshan (104), Wuxi (107), Dalian (105), and Yan’an (106).
Type-055 Is China’s Best-Ever Destroyer
The Type-055 Class is China’s answer to the US Navy’s AEGIS cruisers. The Type-055 ships are said to be the largest surface combatants in the world, weighing about 13,000 tons. They are around a quarter larger than the US Navy’s AEGIS cruisers.
The Type 055 vessel is outfitted with anti-missile, anti-ship, anti-submarine, and air defense armaments, in addition to its stealth capabilities. It is considered among the most sophisticated warships of its kind.
The ship is equipped with a medium-range SAM, a long-range surface-to-air missile (HQ-9), and a quad-packed DK-10A. Similar to the US Navy’s RIM-162 evolved Sea Sparrow Missile, the DK-10A would be an intermediate-range air defense missile based on the PL-12 air-to-air missile. Notably, with 112 vertical launch system (VLS) cells, the Type 055 has greater surface-to-air and anti-ship missile firing capacity than the US Navy’s newest destroyer, the Arleigh Burke class, which has 96.
The Type-055 is also China’s first large combat ship to use full gas turbine power. It also boasts sophisticated anti-submarine and radio armament. Additionally, the ship has advanced radars, sensors, and data link systems integrated into its mast.
The electronics and sensor suite of Type 055 are different from those of earlier classes since they are wholly Chinese-developed, rather than relying on Russian-derived subsystems.
In order to integrate radar, communications, and electronic capabilities into a single electronic superstructure, the ship’s deckhouse is equipped with four active electronically scanned array (AESA) panels and Multifunction Integrated Radio Frequency Systems (MFIRFS).
Type 055 is capable of leading a group of warships in far-sea operations or escorting aircraft carriers. Chinese analysts contend these warships will be crucial in defending China’s security, sovereignty, and territorial integrity.
Notably, the announcement of the deployment of three of these ships in military drills comes days after the manufacturer, China State Shipbuilding Corporation Limited (CSSC) shared some of the warship’s new technical specifications on Weibo in February 2025, as noted by the Global Times report.
The CSSC said last month that the Type 055 destroyer, with a displacement of roughly 13,000 tons, is outfitted with AESA (active electronically scanned array) and X-band radars, an integrated radio frequency system, and a 112-cell missile vertical launch system that can accommodate HQ-9B air defense missiles, YJ-21 “carrier killer” missiles, and anti-missile and anti-submarine systems.
The manufacturer further noted that while the PLAN currently operates eight of these advanced warships, more Type 055s with significantly enhanced capability could be in the works, hinting at an expansion and upgrade program for these world-class vessels.
This may also validate the former US Pacific Command’s Joint Intelligence Center director of operations Carl Schuster’s estimate that China plans to construct about 20 of these cutting-edge destroyers. These are intended to supplement the growing fleet of aircraft carriers and smaller Type 054 frigates.
The strategic importance of the vessel is underscored by the fact that the Type 055, was recognized as a “role model” in January 2024 by the Chinese Communist Party committee of the PLA Navy following the completion of several challenging missions, including combat drills in which it was tasked with fending off mock attacks by foreign forces, as previously reported by the EurAsian Times.
Amid reports that China is already working on its fourth aircraft carrier, the development of upgraded heavy Type 055 warships might further bolster China’s maritime capability and its ambitions of having a ‘blue water navy.’
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