Type 055 destroyer
Artist impression of the Type 055 destroyer
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| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Builders: | Changxingdao-Jiangnan Shipyard |
| Operators: |
 PLA Navy Surface Force
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| Preceded by: | Type 052D |
| In service: | 2018 (estimated) |
| Building: | 1 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type: | Destroyer |
| Displacement: | ~10,000 tons |
| Length: | 175 m (574 ft) |
| Armament: |
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| Aviation facilities: | Stern hangar |
The Type 055 destroyer is a class of guided missile destroyers that is in development for the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy Surface Force.
In April 2014, images showed a full-scale mock-up of the superstructure of a warship being erected at the Chinese naval electronic testing range in Wuhan. The mock-up featured an enclosed integrated mast for radar and other electronics. Observers have concluded the shore-based facility was for a new class of Chinese warship, displacing approximately 10,000 tons referred to as the Type 055. In 2015, the U.S. believed that construction could begin as early as 2016, and has tentatively classified it as a cruiser due to its size. Chinese sources claimed the first Type 055 was ordered from the Jiangnan Shipyard in August 2014, with construction starting in December 2014; the second would be ordered from the Dalian Shipbuilding Industry Company.
In 2015, military analyst Li Li claimed the Type 055 would have two 64-cell VLS grids (one fore and one aft) carrying YJ-100 long-range anti-ship cruise missiles, anti-submarine missiles, and anti-aircraft missiles. The United States believes the ship would carry YJ-18 anti-ship cruise missiles. In 2013, Richard Fisher speculated that, if Chinese development was extrapolated, the Type 055 might be the first Chinese warship to mount laser weapons. Potentially owing to Chinese deficiencies in anti-submarine warfare (ASW), the ship is expected to carry various undersea warfare systems such as towed array sonar, variable depth sonar, towed torpedo decoys, and active torpedo defenses.
In an interview in 2015, Rear Admiral Yin Zhuo countered Western media claims that the Type 055 represented a 'game changer in naval warfare'. He regarded the Type 055 as equivalent to the U.S Arleigh Burke-class destroyer and the emphasis of its estimated 10,000-ton displacement was exaggerated; the existing Japanese Atago-class destroyer is over 9,000 tons, the American Zumwalt-class destroyer is over 12,000 tons, and the Russian Udaloy-class destroyer is over 8,000 tons. Further stated that if the Type 055 were to mount laser weapons or electromagnetic railguns, the ship would require integrated electric propulsion to meet their power requirements.
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