Image source: topwar.ru
The screensaver shows a photo that certainly arouses interest. The tenth building is already at the stage of completion. Knowing the pace of construction in China, it is safe to say that by the end of the year the ship will be handed over to the fleet.
Even more interesting are the satellite images of the shipyard. Currently, another Type 055 hull is being formed in the dry dock, as well as a type 052 D destroyer.
Image source: topwar.ru
It is interesting to note that the previous five Type 052 D hulls were formed in the same dry dock. After that, the dock was filled with water, and all five ships were towed to the completion wall. Four of them are in the process of completion, and the fifth has already entered sea trials.
The displacement of the Type 055 at full load is about 13,000 tons, its length is 180 meters and its width is 20 meters. The main armament of this ship is 112 cells of the "universal VLS", which house HQ-9 long-range anti-aircraft missiles and YJ-18 anti-ship missiles. In addition, official footage released in April 2022 shows that this type of ship is also capable of using hypersonic anti-ship missiles called YJ-21.
American official reports in recent years have repeatedly stated that in the near future the Type 055 will be able to be equipped with an anti-ship ballistic missile (ASBM).
The displacement of Type 052 D destroyers ranges from 7,000 to 7,500 tons. At the moment, the PLAN (Navy of the People's Liberation Army of China) has 25 ships of this type.
The destroyer is the latest version of the previous 052B and 052C models. It is equipped with a 64-cell U-VLS launcher, similar to the one used on Type 055 destroyers. In addition, it has a type 346A radar with a large fixed panel of an active phased array antenna (AFAR).
The latest Type 052 B destroyers have a new surface search AFAR, conventionally named Type 368, which replaced the previous Type 364 radar. Although the characteristics of the new system are not yet known, the general direction of development is clear.
If we consider that the four Type 54 frigates in terms of their tactical and technical characteristics are already closer to Type 52 destroyers than to frigates, then the Pentagon has something to think about.
