Two new Type 055 large destroyers of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy, the Hull 109 Dongguan and the Hull 110 Anqing, conducting joint training at sea with other vessels, are featured in a report aired by Xinwen Lianbo, a news program produced by China Central Television, on March 8, 2026. Photo: Screenshot of the Xinwen Lianbo

Two new Type 055 large destroyers of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy, the Hull 109 Dongguan and the Hull 110 Anqing, made their official debut in an official media report on Sunday, taking the total number of the 10,000 ton-class warships to 10, up from eight. Chinese military affairs experts said that the destroyer is among the most powerful warship classes in China and the world, and more Type 055 vessels will strengthen the PLA Navy's long-range offensive and defensive capabilities, serving national defense as well as regional peace and stability.

A report aired on Sunday by Xinwen Lianbo, a news program produced by China Central Television (CCTV), showed the Type 055 large destroyers with hull numbers 109 and 110 conducting joint training at sea together with other vessels.

It marks the first time that these two new warships have made an appearance in an official report, and that the number of China's Type 055 10,000-ton-class destroyers has increased from eight to 10. Previously, the Xinhua News Agency reported that China had eight Type 055 destroyers: the Hull 101 Nanchang, Hull 102 Lhasa, Hull 103 Anshan, Hull 104 Wuxi, Hull 105 Dalian, Hull 106 Yan'an, Hull 107 Zunyi and Hull 108 Xianyang.

According to publicly available reports, the previous eight Type 055 destroyers were deployed with the Northern Theater Command Navy and the Southern Theater Command Navy. The two newly commissioned vessels have been assigned to the Eastern Theater Command Navy. With this deployment, three theater command navies now operate Type 055 destroyers.

Two new Type 055 large destroyers of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy, the Hull 109 Dongguan and the Hull 110 Anqing, conducting joint training at sea with other vessels, are featured in a report aired by Xinwen Lianbo, a news program produced by China Central Television, on March 8, 2026. Photo: Screenshot of the Xinwen Lianbo

Wang Yunfei, a Chinese military affairs expert, told the Global Times on Sunday that it is likely that the second batch of Type 055 destroyers has seen upgrades and improvements over the first batch of eight vessels. Specific technical details are not disclosed at present. The expert noted that the additional hulls will meet the future needs of multiple Chinese carrier groups conducting long-distance deployments.

Typically, a carrier formation requires one to two large destroyers as its main escort vessels. Considering factors such as training rotation and maintenance cycles, supporting three carrier groups or going on long-range missions would require more large destroyers, Wang said.

Zhang Junshe, another Chinese military affairs expert, told the Global Times that the core advantages of the Type 055 lie in two aspects. 

First is its outstanding reconnaissance, early-warning and information-integration capabilities. The ship's radar has a longer detection range and stronger surveillance capability, enabling it to identify and track hundreds of aerial targets simultaneously and to command fleet air-defense operations, Zhang said.

Second is the strong performance of its onboard weapons. Equipped with long-range air-defense and missile-defense systems as well as long-range anti-ship missiles, the vessel also possesses long-range land-attack capabilities, giving it strong capabilities in air defense, missile defense and strikes against both sea and land targets, said Zhang.

According to Zhang, the Type 055 has multiple operational roles. First, it can serve as a core escort for carrier strike groups, playing a key protective role. Second, it can operate with large amphibious assault ships such as the Type 075 and Type 076 to form amphibious strike groups, providing air-defense and sea-control cover for amphibious assault operations and supporting long-range landing missions. 

Third, it can lead its own task group, working with vessels such as Type 052C and Type 052D guided-missile destroyers and Type 054A and Type 054B frigates to form long-range maritime strike groups capable of independently conducting offensive and defensive missions in distant seas, or operating alongside carrier and amphibious groups in comprehensive blue-water operations, thereby enhancing the Chinese navy's far-seas combat capabilities, Zhang added.

More Type 055 destroyers also mean that China's ability to maintain a presence in distant seas will see further improvement, Wang said. This enhancement in capability will have far-reaching significance not only for the development of the navy and the advancement of national defense, but also for the maintenance of regional peace and stability.

"The current number of Type 055 10,000-ton-class destroyers is still insufficient. In the future, their construction should continue to expand to meet the Chinese navy's multiple needs in far-seas defense operations, the protection of maritime lines of communication, and the safeguarding of overseas interests," Zhang added.