First live-fire surface-to-air missile launches by PLA Navy’s Type 055 large destroyer captured in rare official media footage
By: Global Times | Published: Mar 21, 2026 03:44 PM
An official Chinese media report on Saturday released rare footage of the first live-fire surface-to-air missile launches by the Nanchang, the first Type 055 10,000 ton-class large destroyer of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy, with all five missiles launched in the test hitting their targets. A Chinese military affairs expert said that the high accuracy demonstrated the Chinese warship’s comprehensive capabilities, not only its surface-to-air missiles, but also its situational awareness.