China Trials 155mm Naval Gun as Potential Fire Support Asset in Taiwan Scenario.

A Type 910 test ship of the People’s Liberation Army Navy was photographed at Liaoning Shipyard in Dalian carrying a previously unseen 155 mm naval gun on its bow. The sighting suggests China has moved a long-discussed heavy naval artillery concept into sea trials, potentially expanding the firepower options of future PLA Navy surface combatants.

A Type 910 test ship belonging to the People’s Liberation Army Navy has been photographed at Liaoning Shipyard in Dalian, fitted with a previously unseen 155 mm naval gun mounted forward, The War Zone reported on February 19, 2026. The vessel was moored near Lüshun Naval Base, a location frequently linked to Chinese experimental naval programs. The installation marks the first observed use of a 155 mm caliber gun in a modern Chinese maritime setting and indicates the system may have entered initial sea trials. If confirmed, the development would represent a significant increase in naval gun caliber beyond the 130 mm systems currently fielded on PLA Navy destroyers, pointing to renewed Chinese interest in extended range naval surface fire support.
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PLA Navy tests a 155mm naval gun that could support amphibious operations in a Taiwan contingency. (Picture source: X channel @PLA_MilitaryUpd)

The Type 910 is not a frontline combatant but a platform dedicated to technological experimentation. It allows the testing of new sensors, weapons, and integration architectures without affecting operational destroyers. The use of this ship suggests that the 155 mm gun remains under development, particularly for validating recoil management, deck structural resistance, and integration with the fire control system.

Initial images of the gun correspond to photographs that appeared in 2025 showing a 155 mm turret attributed to Inner Mongolia Northern Heavy Industries Group, a subsidiary of the state-owned China North Industries Group Corporation, known as NORINCO. A data plate shared online indicates a weight of approximately 21,800 kilograms for the turret and gun assembly. This mass exceeds that of the H/PJ-38 130 mm naval gun currently installed on Type 052D and Type 055 destroyers, implying structural modifications would be required for integration on a combat vessel. The system is reportedly designed to fire guided projectiles, potentially increasing range and accuracy. The reference to guided munitions conceptually aligns the system with the Advanced Gun System (AGS) developed for the U.S. Navy’s Zumwalt-class destroyers, which was intended to deliver sustained and precise naval gunfire support for amphibious operations.

By comparison, the 130 mm H/PJ-38, derived from the Soviet AK-130, is currently the largest caliber in active service within the Chinese Navy. Its maximum range is estimated at around 23 kilometers with conventional ammunition. Moving to a 155 mm system could theoretically extend this range, particularly through the use of base-bleed or rocket-assisted projectiles. Internationally, several programs are using this caliber to develop ramjet-assisted or glide projectiles capable of reaching distances beyond traditional naval artillery ranges, although no official performance data have been released regarding the Chinese model.

This development follows earlier experimentation with more advanced technologies. In 2018, a prototype electromagnetic railgun was installed on a landing ship for widely reported trials. No operational deployment has been confirmed since. Developing a conventional 155 mm naval gun relies on established technologies, drawing in part on experience with land-based systems such as the PLZ-05 155 mm self-propelled howitzer. As a result, it represents a more mature and potentially more rapidly deployable solution.

In capability terms, a 155 mm shell carries a larger explosive payload and generates greater fragmentation effects than a 76 mm or 130 mm projectile, increasing effectiveness against fortified positions, coastal infrastructure, or lightly protected vessels. However, the rate of fire decreases as caliber increases, and onboard ammunition storage would likely be more limited. Unlike smaller naval guns equipped with proximity fuses for engaging aerial targets, a 155 mm gun would not replace close-in air defense systems and would need to operate within a layered architecture that includes surface-to-air missiles and close-in weapon systems.

From an operational perspective, a long-range 155 mm naval gun would enhance fire support capabilities during amphibious operations. The Chinese Navy is expanding its assault fleet with Type 075 ships and the new Type 076 Sichuan, designed to project forces ashore. In such scenarios, naval artillery can neutralize coastal batteries, radar installations, and defensive positions before and during landing operations. The use of guided 155 mm munitions would provide an intermediate option between conventional naval gunfire and cruise missiles, potentially at a lower unit cost.

This capability carries particular relevance in the context of a Taiwan-related scenario. The island maintains a dense network of radars, anti-ship missile systems, and coastal artillery intended to deny access to potential landing areas. A ship-mounted 155 mm gun could sustain prolonged suppression of defenses located within the immediate tactical depth of the shoreline, engage fortified positions or repositioned anti-ship systems, and maintain pressure without relying exclusively on more expensive missile systems.

Given Taiwan’s geography, characterized by narrow coastal plains quickly followed by rugged terrain, the initial engagement zone would likely be limited to a relatively narrow band. A heavy naval gun capable of delivering precise fire within this area would provide an additional attrition tool alongside air strikes and ballistic missiles, while integrating into a broader joint operational framework. It would serve as a continuous fire support asset to assist amphibious maneuver and support the consolidation of a beachhead against organized defenses.