China's tenth Type 055 destroyer starts sea trials to reinforce carrier protection in the Pacific.

As reported by SomePLAOSINT on August 27, 2025, China’s tenth Type 055 destroyer has been observed undergoing sea trials, signaling further progress in the People’s Liberation Army Navy’s program to field large multi-role surface combatants. Referred to by NATO as the Renhai-class, the Type 055 is classified as a cruiser by the US Navy, which defines such ships as large multi-mission platforms with command facilities.
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Providing area air defense, anti-ship and land-attack strike, and anti-submarine capabilities, the Type 055 is positioned as the main escort for China's carrier strike groups, but it can also operate independently in long-range missions. (Picture source: Weibo/@欧阳振我86468)

The development of the Type 055 followed decades of Chinese interest in a larger destroyer. A project initiated in the 1970s was abandoned in 1983 due to technological and industrial shortfalls, especially the inability to produce advanced gas turbines. The concept was revived in the 2000s, with a full-scale mock-up of the superstructure appearing at Wuhan’s electronic testing range in 2014, shortly before construction began. The program was structured to provide sixteen ships in two batches of eight, aligned with the 14th Five-Year Plan, and distributed across the PLAN’s North, East, and South Sea Fleets. The ships are built at Jiangnan Shipyard in Shanghai and Dalian Shipbuilding Industry Company in Liaoning. Satellite imagery has shown parallel construction at these facilities, with modular assembly allowing shorter build times. Reports note that the first hull was launched after 29 months of construction, with costs estimated at about 6 billion yuan ($888 million) per ship, including R&D.

The Type 055 Renhai-class has a displacement of about 11,000 tons standard and 12,000 to 13,000 tons fully loaded, with a length of 180 meters, a beam of 20 meters, and a draught of 6.6 meters. Its speed is estimated at 30 knots with an endurance of 5,000 nautical miles at 12 knots. The lead ship, the Nanchang, was laid down in 2014, launched in 2017, and commissioned in January 2020, with subsequent ships entering service in 2021 and 2022. By late 2022, the first batch of eight had all been commissioned, and additional units continue to progress through launch and trial phases, with the tenth now confirmed on sea trials. Propulsion is provided by four QC-280 gas turbines rated at 28 MW each, giving a total of 112 MW, in a combined gas and gas (COGAG) arrangement. Six QD-50 turbine generators rated at 5 MW each provide about 30 MW for shipboard electrical power, which is used for sensors, command systems, and auxiliaries. Top speed is reported at 30 knots, with range sufficient for extended operations beyond regional waters. Some Chinese publications have suggested that future variants might adopt integrated electric propulsion, which could reduce noise, improve efficiency, and provide sufficient power for high-energy weapons such as lasers or railguns. At present, the ships employ conventional systems, although trials of advanced propulsion technologies have been reported on other vessels.

The sensors and processing systems emphasize dual-band coverage and reduced signatures. The integrated mast houses four S-band Type 346B AESA radar panels, approximately 40 percent larger than the Type 346A used on Type 052D destroyers, with claimed detection ranges exceeding 400 km and reported improvements of up to 60 percent against low-observable targets. The mast also carries X-band radar for tracking low-flying objects, electronic warfare antennas, datalink systems, and navigation radars. Additional features include laser warning sensors, electro-optical systems, and electronic countermeasures. The hull design incorporates a bulbous bow housing a sonar system and supports both a variable depth sonar and a towed array. Chinese analysts describe the vessel as able to coordinate command and control functions for a task group, with a combat intelligence center located within the superstructure. The design reduces radar, infrared, acoustic, and electromagnetic signatures by concealing mooring equipment and exhaust outlets.

Primary armament is concentrated in 112 vertical launch system (VLS) cells, arranged with 64 forward and 48 aft. These cells conform to the GJB 5860-2006 national standard, allowing hot and cold launches. Compatible missiles include the HHQ-9 long-range SAM with ranges of 200 km or more, the YJ-18 anti-ship cruise missile with a range of 220 to 540 km and terminal speeds of Mach 2.5 to 3, the YJ-21 hypersonic ballistic missile with a claimed range of 1,500 km and speeds between Mach 6 and 10, and the CJ-10 land-attack cruise missile with a range between 1,500 and 2,000 km and a 500 kg payload. The VLS can also accommodate anti-submarine rockets such as the Yu-8. Additional weapons include a 130 mm H/PJ-45 naval gun, an H/PJ-11 30 mm 11-barrel CIWS with a rate of fire up to 11,000 rounds per minute, a 24-cell HHQ-10 short-range SAM-based CIWS with a range between 0.5 and 9 km, and two 324 mm triple torpedo tubes firing Yu-7 lightweight torpedoes with a 14 km range and speeds exceeding 45 knots. Countermeasures are provided by Type 726-4 decoy launchers. The aviation facilities allow two helicopters, including the Z-9, Z-18, or Z-20, for anti-submarine and reconnaissance roles.

When compared with the U.S. Navy’s Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, the Type 055 stands out for its larger displacement, greater VLS capacity, and design emphasis on stealth integration. The Burke-class, depending on flight variant, displaces between 9,000 and 10,000 tons and fields 90 to 96 VLS cells, whereas the Type 055 carries 112. Both use dual-band radar suites, though the Burke Flight III incorporates the AN/SPY-6 AESA radar with enhanced detection and tracking, while the Type 055 integrates S-band and X-band radars into a consolidated mast for reduced signatures. In terms of armament, both carry long-range SAMs, anti-ship missiles, and land-attack cruise missiles, but the Chinese platform adds the potential of hypersonic YJ-21 missiles.

The Burke-class maintains robust ballistic missile defense integration with the Aegis Combat System, whereas the Type 055 may serve in that role in future iterations. Both classes are designed to escort carriers and conduct independent missions, but the Type 055 reflects China’s recent decision to prioritize large hulls with substantial magazine depth, while the Arleigh Burke remains the core surface combatant of the U.S. Navy. Future versions of the Type 055 could serve as launch platforms for anti-ballistic interceptors such as the HQ-19, according to U.S. Department of Defense assessments. Together, the ten units of this class of destroyer mark a significant increase in the Chinese ability to project power and conduct sustained operations beyond its near seas.