China launches a new "large destroyer" and immediately begins construction of a new one

The Chinese naval company Dalian Shipbuilding has launched a new Type 055 "large destroyer", the tenth in a row, and started construction of the next hull.

Here's What We Know

According to new commercial satellite imagery, the company has also laid down another Type 052D destroyer, the sixth of the latest batch at the shipyard. The beams for the new modules - 18 and 20 metres - can also be seen, indicating parallel construction in the same dock.

Dalian is one of the two main naval shipyards, along with Jiangnan in Shanghai, that builds all the latest guided-missile destroyers.

Dalian Shipbuilding recently launched five Type 052D destroyers assembled in one large dry dock. In addition, until mid-April, the shipyard was also working on the modernisation of the Liaoning, the first Chinese aircraft carrier to be rebuilt at the shipyard. By the way, this aircraft carrier was built in Ukraine, in Mykolaiv.

The new Dalian Type 055 is now moored at Dalian's main facilities, which were previously used for the Liaoning's modernisation. The ship is the second hull recently launched. Due to the size and capabilities of the 055, US officials are calling it a missile cruiser.

Source: Naval News