Chinese Type 055 guided-missile destroyers are designed to fire missiles at targets from a wide range of locations. These ships can launch various anti-ship and surface–to-air missiles. These ships are equipped with a variety of hull-mounted sonars. They can be used to join other Chinese naval forces and form a battle force.
Type 055 vessels can have a length of around 180m and a displacement capacity of more than 12,000 ton. The vessel is a large and powerful warship that is being built for the People's Liberation Army Navy. It is a striking example of the PLA’s capability expansion as well the country’s shipbuilding endeavor.
Several Type 055 Warships are currently operational. Others are in various stages of construction. In January 2020, Nanchang became the first ship in this class. In addition to the Nanchang, two more ships have been launched since then, while the fifth and sixth ships are in active service.
In the near future, Type 055 ships from other countries are also expected to enter service. Li Jinwei, senior captain of the Nanchang, said that the vessel would take on a variety of missions, focusing on regional security. He assured that the vessel is ready for any emergency.
During recent maritime drills in China, the Type 055 destroyer from China has been under evaluation and testing. Li said that the exercises were to enhance the skills of officers as well as make the ship more ready for combat. After the exercise, the vessel will participate in important missions this calendar year.
Type 055 ships feature a hull-mounted, variable depth sonar system. They can also be equipped with a 24-cell HQ-10 air defense missile rocket launcher as well as the H/PJ-11 30mm close range weapon systems. At the bow of the vessel, there is a 130mm naval gun. Two Changhe Z-18F helicopters are also aboard. According to western experts, the Type 055 should be capable of moving around 13,000 tons. These estimates are not definitive and should not to be considered final.
Eight Type 055s are currently in active service by the PLA Navy, while five more are being built. Plans are underway to build 16 more. Each vessel is more than six billion Yuan ($890 million) and has a top speed exceeding 30k. Type 055's maximum power output comes from a mixture of gas turbines as well as gas turbine propulsion.
Another distinctive feature of the Type 055 ship is its smoke stack. This reduces radar cross-section. This design allows for stealthy characteristics, while suppressing radars and infrared signals. Despite its stealthy appearance, it is expected that it will carry multiple types surface-to-air as well as land-attack cruise missiles.
In the last few years, Chinese navy's Type 055-class destroyers were also capable of conducting aggressive submarine-hunting missions. Although they do not have as much range as the US Navy's Zumwalt-class stealth destroyers, the ships are reportedly capable of spotting and tracking smaller targets.