Dalian Shipyard launches 8th Type 055 & 25th Type 052D destroyers for PLA Navy.

China reportedly launched its 8th Type 055 (Renhai-class cruiser) and 25th Type 052D (Luyang III-class) destroyers at Dalian Shipyard, Liaoning Province, on 30th August 2020. This event took place only two days after the decommissioning of two Type 051 destroyers attached to the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy.
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The 25th Type 052D destroyer (background) and the 8th Type 055 destroyer (foreground) at Dalian shipyard on 08/29/2020. (Picture source: Weibo)

Hong Kong-based media group Takung Wenwei reported on Sunday that the PLA Navy's eighth Type 055 and 25th Type 052D destroyers were simultaneously launched in the Dalian Shipyard at Northeast China's Liaoning Province on Sunday morning.

Displacing more than 10,000 tons, Type 055 is a 180-meter-long, 20-meter-wide guided-missile destroyer with 112 vertical launch missile cells capable of launching missiles such as surface-to-air, anti-ship, land-attack and anti-submarine missiles, according to media reports. There are plans of the destroyer being deployed for anti-ballistic missile operations.

In addition, China reportedly wants to build over 30 Type 052D guided-missile destroyers. These ships come equipped with weapons and equipment including advanced active electronically scanned array radar systems and 64 vertical launch missile cells. They are capable of undertaking missions including escort and air defence.

The new warships are considered the world's second-most powerful destroyer after the U.S. Navy's $4 billion Zumwalt-class.

The 8th Type 055 Destroyer for the PLAN launched by Dalian shipyard in late August 2020. (Picture source: Weibo)