Media reports and satellite imagery have fuelled speculation that China will showcase the first ship of a new class of large surface warships at an international fleet review during the 70th anniversary celebrations of the creation of its navy in Qingdao on April 23.
Construction of the first Type 055 class destroyer began in 2015 and the vessel commenced sea trials in 2018. The Type 055 class destroyer is nearly 180 meters long and displaces about 12,000 tonnes, making it one of the largest surface warships in the world, excluding aircraft carriers and amphibious assault ships. Experts have speculated the Type 055 would be a key element of China's aircraft carrier battle groups as they project power.
According to a media report shared by China's Ministry of National Defence in 2015, the Type 055 class ships can carry “over 100 missiles”. The warship is equipped with an advanced long-range radar system for detection and tracking of aerial and surface targets.
According to China Military Online, which describes itself as the “only official English-language military news website of the Chinese Armed Forces”, the Type 055 has 112 vertical launch (VLS) cells. These cells can carry anti-ship and anti-aircraft missiles as well as the CJ-10 cruise missile. China Military Online claims the CJ-10 has a range of 1,500km.
The Pentagon's Annual Report to Congress in 2018 referred to the Type 055 as the 'Renhai' class and noted the first ship would be commissioned in 2019. The report states the Type 055 class ships would be equipped with China's newest anti-ship cruise missile, the YJ-18, which can hit a target up to 537km away. The Pentagon believes the type could, in the future, carry anti-ship ballistic missiles. The Annual Report to Congress notes, the Renhai “will be China’s premier carrier escort for blue-water operations.”
In July, two Type 055 class ships were launched on a single day in Dalian shipyard. In August 2018, the South China Morning Post, based in Hong Kong, reported China has launched a total of four Type 055 ships and is building four more.
US experts have also speculated the Type 055 class has the space and power-generation capacity to accommodate futuristic 'rail guns', which can fire high-velocity projectiles at great distances.
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On April 17, China Military Online reported, “Both the Type 055 destroyer and the Liaoning aircraft carrier will participate in the massive 70th anniversary’s fleet review on April 23.” In a press conference on March 28, the spokesperson for China's Ministry of National Defence was asked about the possible commissioning date of the first Type 055 destroyer after it was spotted with ceremonial flags. The spokesperson replied, “The Type 055 destroyer is also conducting related trials. And I’m looking forward to the commissioning date the same as all of you.”
On April 15, ImageSat International (iSi), an Israeli satellite imagery company, posted images of the first Type 055 destroyer at Qingdao. The company inferred, “It is probable that the Type 055 Destroyer is operational.”
Interestingly, in February this year, China's Ministry of National Defence shared an article that claimed the first Type 055 destroyer would be named Lhasa, after the capital city of Tibet.