Chinese naval builder Dalian Shipbuilding has launched a new Type 055 “large destroyer”, the tenth overall, and commenced construction on a further hull. According to new commercial satellite imagery the builder has also laid down another Type 052D destroyer, the sixth of the latest batch at the yard. Beam figures for the new modules of 18 and 20 metres respectively suggest an effort of parallel construction in a single drydock, Naval News reports.
Dalian is one of two principal naval yards together with Jiangnan in Shanghai constructing all recent guided missile destroyers for the PLAN. This most recent construction of new combatants for Dalian is taking place at a secondary yard typically referred to as Dagushan.
The Dagushan-based yard is located to the East across Dalian Bay from the builder’s primary facilities previously performing all DDG-construction. This development may indicate that Dalian Shipbuilding is trying to offload more naval output from their primary facilities in order to free up larger drydocks for commercial construction. Interestingly Dagushan first assembled this new Type 055 on a slipway, similar to Jiangnan. However the yard then used a barge to move the hull into a drydock for further work in late March.
Most recently Dalian Shipbuilding has launched five Type 052D destroyers all assembled in a single large drydock. In addition the yard also performed modernization work on Liaoning (16), the first Chinese aircraft carrier rebuilt at the yard, until mid-April.
Dalian’s new Type 055 is now berthed at Dalian’s primary facilities previously used for Liaoning’s modernization. The ship is the second recently launched hull, with Jiangnan having launched the first ship in late 2023. Due to size and capabilities of the Type 055 US officials refer to the ship as a missile cruiser.
The Type 055 displaces approximately 13,000 tons at full load, at a length of 180 metres and a beam of 20 metres. It features 112 cells of a “universal VLS” housing the HQ-9 long range SAM and the YJ-18 AShM. In addition official footage revealed in April 2022 suggests the type is also capable of using a reportedly hypersonic antiship missile referred to as YJ-21. American official reports over years past repeatedly asserted that the Type 055 may be able to field an antiship ballistic missile (AShBM) in the near future.
Production figures for Type 055 so far consist of a first batch of eight hulls. Both Jiangnan and Dalian Shipbuilding have produced four hulls each. The first batch-Type 055 as of 2024 have all entered service with PLAN. These most modern PLAN combatants are currently active with the South and North Sea Fleets.
Both yards now appear to be working on their respective second hulls of the second batch. The final figure of second batch-destroyers remains speculative, as the PLA does not officially comment on intended build rates. Other yards such as Hudong-Zhonghua in Shanghai and Huangpu-Wenchong in Guangzhou are notionally capable of building DDGs as well. However both yards instead appear to focus on construction of frigates such as Type 054A and Type 054B. HZ is also the primary builder of amphibious assault ships for PLAN.
Type 052D-construction ongoing
In a related development Dalian Shipbuilding has also laid down yet another Type 052D. The new modules now visible are the first ones for Dagushan. The event confirms that the most numerous DDG-design for PLAN remains in production at both yards. The Type 052D DDG displaces between 7,000 and 7,500 tons depending on variant. So far 25 ships are in active service with PLAN. The destroyer is the culmination of the preceding 052B and 052C-design lineage. It features 64 cells of the U-VLS design similar to Type 055 in combination with the Type 346A large fixed panel AESA-type radar. As mentioned Dalian has already launched another five hulls of the most recent batch. Figures for Jiangnan are somewhat more difficult to establish. According to imagery the yard has launched at least two new 052D so far, with more modules in assembly.
Combined with ongoing construction of frigates and related adaptions for the Coast Guard at both HZ and HW plus Jiangnan’s output Dalian Shipbuilding’s current construction illustrate the continuous and steady output of new combatants for PLAN across all four major naval builders.
