From 101 to 110: Observing the Strong Military Footprints of the Ten Thousand Ton Destroyer

From the emergence of the 101 Nanchang ship to the current operation of the 110 Anqing ship in the East China Sea, in just a few years, the Chinese Navy's 055-class destroyer family has grown to double digits, achieving full coverage across three major military regions.

Recently, after the official announcement of the commissioning of the 9th ship, Dongguan, and the 10th ship, Anqing, the ships immediately headed to a certain area in the East China Sea to conduct realistic maritime training. In this issue of "Military Intelligence Time," military commentator Cao Weidong provides an in-depth analysis of the realistic training situation of the new 055 ships and reviews the strong military footprint of the 10,000-ton destroyers from leading parades to showcasing their capabilities in distant seas.

Dongguan Ship, Anqing Ship

Realistic training footage in the East China Sea released

At the beginning of this month, the Dongguan ship set sail from a naval port in the Eastern Theater Command, heading to a certain area in the East China Sea to conduct exercises on various subjects such as anti-ship attacks, air defense, anti-submarine operations, and maritime resupply. This is also the first realistic maritime training since the Dongguan ship was commissioned.

In this realistic training, the Dongguan ship not only had to complete single-ship training tasks such as navigating narrow waterways and damage control but also had to cooperate with other ships in the formation to conduct joint operations such as anti-ship attacks, maritime resupply, and multi-domain coordinated strikes. According to the crew of the Dongguan ship, with the improvement of weaponry and equipment performance, the software and hardware of the Dongguan ship are significantly different from previous ships, making it more "sensitive and aware."

Naval Dongguan Ship, Guo Tian: We can see further, the range is broader, and there will be more interference factors, which can be said to increase exponentially. This requires us to practice more and observe more regularly to accumulate experience, so we can achieve quick identification and efficient handling.

In addition to the Dongguan ship, the newly commissioned Anqing ship is also deployed in the Eastern Theater Command. Recently, the Anqing ship formed a fleet with various types of vessels and headed to a certain maritime area to conduct specialized training on over ten subjects, including joint search and rescue, navigation resupply, and damage control.

Upon arriving in the training sea area, the Anqing ship's fleet immediately began anti-submarine training, with anti-submarine helicopters quickly taking off to establish a network with the fleet's ships and conduct a net-style search for underwater targets.

The Suzhou ship was the first to detect the suspected submarine's position, and the anti-submarine helicopter and fleet quickly occupied advantageous positions to lock onto the enemy target's location and simulate an attack.

During the fleet movement training, the Anqing ship also formed various tactical formations for anti-ship strikes, air defense, and fleet vigilance, conducting various tactical maneuvers.

Realistic training of the 055-class destroyer

What are the new highlights?

Is navigating narrow waterways a difficult basic task for a 10,000-ton destroyer?

Military commentator Cao Weidong: This is a basic task, but it is also a very challenging one! Because the 055-class missile destroyer is 10,000 tons, with a length of 180 meters and a width of 20 meters, which is equivalent to the length of four swimming pools. Therefore, navigating in a narrow channel is like a car trying to maneuver in an alley. You have to avoid other obstacles while ensuring your own safety. It is a basic task that also reflects the ability of the officers and soldiers to master and operate such new equipment after its commissioning.

Are tasks like navigation resupply, damage control, and joint search and rescue also the first training subjects to be completed after the new ship's commissioning?

Military commentator Cao Weidong: We must emphasize that it is a 10,000-ton missile destroyer. In the event of a fire or flooding, the damage control department must respond very promptly. During wartime or military operations, this is crucial for effectively preserving the safety of lives and the integrity of equipment. At the same time, this also enhances their ability to coordinate across the entire ship.

What role does the Anqing ship play in joint anti-submarine operations?

Military commentator Cao Weidong: Although the Anqing ship is currently participating in anti-submarine exercises, it is not acting alone; it is participating alongside other surface vessels and helicopters. This demonstrates its capability to efficiently search for submarines in the future. Additionally, since the Anqing ship is a 10,000-ton missile destroyer, it may be able to carry two helicopters in its hangar. Therefore, the Anqing ship's participation in this anti-submarine exercise could likely see it taking on the role of flagship (command ship). It may also attempt to carry more advanced helicopters like the Z-20 for joint anti-submarine operations. This not only indicates that the requirements for realistic training and transitioning to combat are becoming increasingly stringent but also that our platforms are becoming more advanced.

The fleet composition for this maritime realistic training of the Anqing ship includes one 055-class destroyer, three 052D-class destroyers, one 052C-class destroyer, and one comprehensive supply ship. What type of tasks is this configuration suitable for?

Military commentator Cao Weidong: If these ships are part of an aircraft carrier group, their air defense capabilities and anti-ship strike capabilities will be significantly enhanced. When there is no aircraft carrier present, if the 055-class missile destroyer serves as the flagship and the other destroyers serve as subordinate ships, their firepower will be stronger, increasing our defensive depth. If we are conducting maritime escort missions in distant seas, I would place this fleet here to carry out air defense and anti-ship combat missions, including anti-submarine operations, to ensure the safety of maritime routes and execute such tasks.

Why is it called a world-class destroyer?

A close look at the 055-class destroyer

The 055 10,000-ton destroyer is a sharp sword for defending our maritime territory. Why is it considered a world-class destroyer? The answer lies in every design aspect of the ship.

The two latest 10,000-ton destroyers have significantly improved performance and weaponry.

Reporter Li Xiaoqi: Here is the main gun, which is taller than my height of 1.65 meters. This 130mm caliber main gun can achieve effective destructive strikes.

Naval Dongguan Ship, Leng Xu: Our main gun has a larger caliber, which means greater lethality, and it has a high rate of fire, a large ammunition capacity, and strong stability. It can effectively strike enemy targets at sea and on land.

Like chocolate blocks, these are the vertical launch systems. There are a total of 64 units on the forward deck and 48 in the midsection of the ship, making a total of 112 launch units. Their main feature is a large payload capacity and the ability to launch various types of missiles, such as air defense and anti-ship missiles.

Above, this is the well-known "ten-thousand rounds gun," which is a "trump card" for terminal defense. Its main features are a high rate of fire, low cost, and a strong probability of destruction, creating a "barrage" in the air to effectively intercept incoming targets.

Reporter Li Xiaoqi: Next, we will arrive at the flight deck, where we will find it is very spacious, which means it can accommodate larger helicopters. Behind me are two large doors, indicating that it can simultaneously carry two helicopters.

Having dual hangars means that the Dongguan ship can support multiple types of onboard aircraft and drones, thereby increasing the variety of tasks it can undertake.

Surprisingly, the Dongguan ship not only has a large deck and hangar but also has a gym equipped with treadmills, stationary bikes, and various exercise equipment to help the crew maintain good physical condition during long deployments.

As a newly commissioned 055-class destroyer, what improvements in equipment performance does the Dongguan ship have compared to previous 055-class destroyers?

Military commentator Cao Weidong: There are very few countries in the world capable of building such missile destroyers, which reflects that we have entered the ranks of world-class missile destroyers. The 109 and 110 ships are the second batch of 055-class missile destroyers. After the first batch was completed, we certainly made some new improvements and refinements after several years of practice. From an appearance perspective, it is difficult to see significant changes between the first and second batches of ships. However, in reality, there may have been some changes in materials, and its stealth performance may be better. Additionally, the weapons and equipment it carries, such as improvements in radar, may enhance the ability to detect stealth targets at greater distances. Furthermore, there may be improvements in the power system, such as longer endurance and faster speeds. These are likely some changes in the new 055-class missile destroyers, and there will definitely be varying degrees of improvements in these aspects.

Two new ships debut in the East China Sea

Deterring "Taiwan independence" separatist forces

The commissioning of the 109 Dongguan ship and the 110 Anqing ship has attracted the attention of military enthusiasts online. What other points should be noted regarding the commissioning of these two new ships?

Military commentator Cao Weidong: Whether it is the Dongguan ship or the Anqing ship, they both belong to the second batch of 055-class missile destroyers and are already our country's most advanced missile destroyers. Both ships are assigned to the East China Sea, serving as effective combat platforms to deter "Taiwan independence" separatist forces, as they have enhanced capabilities for land strikes, air defense, and anti-ship operations. Therefore, we see that the commissioning of these two ships is a very effective means and platform for maintaining the security of our country's maritime direction and deterring "Taiwan independence" separatist forces.

Highlights of the 055-class destroyer

Recalling those moments that shocked the nation

The commissioning of the Dongguan ship and the Anqing ship is not just the debut of two new warships but also a reflection of the continuous growth of the 055-class destroyer family. From the emergence of the first ship to showcasing its capabilities in distant seas, the 055 has created countless moments that have shocked the nation.

On April 23, 2019, during the 70th anniversary of the People's Navy, the Nanchang ship led the surface ship formation and was the first to be reviewed. This was also the first public appearance of the 055-class missile destroyer.

On January 12, 2020, the Nanchang ship officially joined the People's Navy with hull number 101.

In April 2021, the Nanchang ship first joined the Liaoning aircraft carrier group to perform distant sea training missions. During the mission, two foreign ships attempted to cross the normal navigation path of the Chinese Navy's ship formation while the Liaoning aircraft carrier group was adjusting its formation.

Naval Nanchang Ship, Xu Wenqian: At that time, I could hear the commander continuously giving orders to turn the helm, and I had to frequently change our ship's course to prevent them from crossing our formation. I couldn't allow them any opportunity to pass through our formation.

The foreign ships attempted to cross several times but ultimately failed and had to turn away.

At the beginning of 2026, in a certain area of the Yellow Sea, the Chinese Navy's first maritime training of the new year commenced. Four 055-class missile destroyers—Nanchang, Lhasa, Anshan, and Wuxi—appeared together, marking that the Chinese Navy has the capability to form multiple 10,000-ton destroyer groups to execute realistic combat missions.

In January of this year, in a certain area of the South China Sea, a "back-to-back" free confrontation exercise between submarines and surface ships quietly began. The 055-class 10,000-ton destroyer, Zunyi, which was performing reconnaissance and early warning tasks, successfully captured targets and transmitted a large amount of data in real-time, establishing a comprehensive battlefield situational awareness network for the fleet. Over nearly a year, the Zunyi ship has conducted multiple anti-submarine training sessions, continuously refining, researching, and summarizing, achieving phased results in anti-submarine operations.

New equipment such as drone swarms pose severe challenges to the battlefield survival capabilities of surface combatants. In February of this year, in a certain area of the Yellow Sea, the 055-class destroyer, Lhasa, took the lead in establishing a comprehensive anti-drone operational deployment during exercises, prompting an iterative upgrade of new combat capabilities.

Naval Lhasa Ship, Ruan Hongbin: The challenge for us is how to conduct anti-drone operations. We continuously optimize and update from plan formulation, deployment adjustments, to equipment upgrades, creating our own anti-drone system.

The commissioning of the first 055-class destroyer, the Nanchang ship, in 2020 attracted global attention. What is the milestone significance of the Nanchang ship's commissioning?

Military commentator Cao Weidong: The commissioning of the Nanchang ship indicates that our missile destroyers are already in a leading position. It is not only a 10,000-ton missile destroyer but also possesses a certain level of stealth. Moreover, our radar is an active phased array radar, capable of detecting targets at great distances and identifying many targets. Additionally, the missiles it carries have air defense capabilities over hundreds of kilometers, anti-ship capabilities that can strike moving targets hundreds of kilometers away, and land-attack cruise missiles that can reach over a thousand kilometers. Therefore, the commissioning of this ship marks a milestone and lays a solid foundation for the future development of our People's Navy's equipment.

In January of this year, the Navy publicly showcased images of the Nanchang, Wuxi, Lhasa, and Anshan ships appearing together for the first time. What is the purpose of multiple ships from the 055 family training together? What combat scenarios are they preparing for?

Military commentator Cao Weidong: If we have two aircraft carriers operating together in the future, forming a dual-carrier group, we may not need just one or two 055-class missile destroyers, but rather three or four 055-class missile destroyers as supporting vessels. Therefore, the appearance of the four ships together indicates that in the future, they will not only appear together but also train together, preparing for scenarios involving dual-carrier groups. Additionally, if we are in a situation of intense warfare, using more 055-class missile destroyers to jointly complete anti-ship or land strike missions will also enhance our capabilities.

After the 055-class missile destroyers, how will future large destroyers develop?

Military commentator Cao Weidong: At corresponding tonnages, we need to increase different equipment, meaning our missiles may include hypersonic missiles and longer-range missiles. Additionally, for intercepting drones, we may need to install directed energy weapons, such as laser weapons. As stealth targets become more numerous, we need to enhance the ability of our active phased array radar to detect stealth targets. Furthermore, the onboard aircraft, such as the Z-20 multi-purpose helicopter, can perform anti-submarine, transport, and communication tasks, thereby increasing our multi-purpose combat capabilities. Therefore, looking ahead, the degree of automation, the level of artificial intelligence, and the speed, range, and lethality of strikes will see significant advancements.

The 055 family continues to grow.

Each of these 10,000-ton destroyers

is a calling card of the Chinese Navy

and a source of hard-core confidence for billions of people.

From birth to showcasing capabilities,

from commissioning to long voyages,

the story of the 055 is still ongoing.