China Building More Type 055 Large Destroyers - Are these Upgraded?

New photos show that China is constructing a new batch of Type 055 large destroyers, possibly the world's most powerful warship. Are these the rumoured Type 055A improved variant?

Keywords: PLA Navy, PLAN, Chinese Navy, Type 055A, Type 052D, Chinese military
#chinesenavy
#pla

[Senbonzakura]

Awesome for China. The Type 055 is a great looking ship.

[phils]

China is simply taking US threats very seriously. They are also building a very large fleet of VERY modern vessels, with all the command and control advantages that come with it. Seeing as these vessels carry the larger VLS cells for their anti-ship ballistic missiles, any expansion of this Class (and later upgrades) must be seen as a very credible "Carrier" threat, which keeps USN assets well away from Chinese territory in case of any "misunderstanding".

[horridohobbies]

Your research and analysis are impeccable. No other channel on the subject of naval power can compare to yours. Keep up the great work.

[jinz]

I love the type 55, I would like to see a large cruiser type 060 with 160 large VLS and magnetic rail gun as well as 160 15 barrel CWIS.

[ahs]

Your videos are probably one of the most information based ones out there, and definitely one of the highest quality! I absolutely love how you are objectively and 3rd-person viewing all those claims and thinking critically about them, Subscribed right after i watched the first one of your many videos, keep up the good work!

[amunra]

As a non Chinese citizen I must say I am proud proud of China!!!!

[MooMoo-lwvw]

"International arbitral tribunal ruled in 2016 to invalidate China’s claim to the South China."
--- this was not the Hague international court. no international law sits above sovereign law. only when both countries agree to international tribunal to be valid and biding would such arbitration judgement be recognized, such as the arbitration case between Malaysia and Singapore. China did not agree to participate in such tribunal all along in the first place yet the Philippines unilaterally orchestrated this at the instigation of usa at a cost of $30 million paid to the part-time judges. This act was in itself illegal and outright disrespect of international laws and individual countries' sovereignty.

[appledaddy]

You are a respectable video maker and someone who truly loves warships! I don't pay much attention to warships, but I enjoy watching your videos.
I totally agree with some comments saying that 055 is in very great shape, and, handsome. :)

[olibeau]

Which changes and improvements do you think the Type 055A will have? Offense wise the Type 055 is already formidable, so I wonder if the changes and improvements will be focused on its internal systems and close-range defensive capabilities. I read it could have two RAM launchers.

[a-train]

Love the video like always man, but do you have another channel where you focus on ground/air power of the PLA? Or any other army. Either way keep up the good work!

[nostradamus]

HK news YouTube channel (Bastille) suggests 4x 055 (enhanced version with electric propulsion) are being built for the East Sea Fleet.

[anonanon]

The Type 055 looks really sleek from all angles.

[christophmahler]

One has to assume that *the PLAN will build as many guided missile destroyers as necessary to match **_any_** US Navy incursion into the first island chain* .

I don't have a clue how that requirement is to be assessed - e.g. by creating an air defense screen, too dense for even combined US carrier groups to overwhelm ? But if China has the economic means to build such a navy - to be divided in three operational fleets - it _most certainly_ will - especially after the recent complete US failure to assure China of the unquestionable consensus upon the 'One China Policy' (that is that the island of Taiwan is considered Chinese territory, despite the de facto lack of Chinese direct control).

Again, if submarine warfare is a crucial requirement for any operation in the South China Sea, then a _massive_ expansion by the PLAN toward that end will confirm that China is now readying for full scale military conflict (see the actual count of Chinese nuclear submarines and possibly of equivalent unmanned underwater vehicles).

...and again, I don't think it is useful to exclude the 'One Belt, One Road' construction projects from a more complete picture - since the US had gathered NATO fleets since 2001 around the Horn of Africa while *China seeks to transfer vital shipping unto rail* (a main driver of Chinese diplomacy between Iran and the now ruling Ajman tribe within Saudi Arabia).

Eventually, *the Suez Canal will be denied to all sides as it was once shut down during the Arab-Israeli Wars* - as a similar confrontation in international affairs has returned - I'd claim it to be most likely that _the 2021 Canal obstruction was deliberate and a sort of 'stress test' on global maritime shipping_ ...

...that South Africa is a member of BRICS and almost all applicants of BRICS are situated around the Horn of Africa is foreshadowing what is to come.

[harrydunn]

So What if They Are?
Did you Hear the Chinese complain when THE Americans spent $10 billion on a Aircraft Carrier?

[fatnlazychinc]

Publicly available govt RFQ indicated two new 055 ships being built from earlier this year: “procurement request for CIWS system for the 9th and 10th ship of the XX5 class”

[JD-dmuj]

I can’t envision a scenario to where the next batch of 055s wouldn’t have some upgrades, I expect at minimum, they’ll replace the 1130 with the 2030, replace the HQ9/10/16s, that collection of SAMs, IMO aren’t going to cut it moving forward.

[summerchina]

China has the manufacturing advantage. I have heard China's manufacturing cost of these modern military equipment is only 1/3 to 1/5 of the west and they can build it much faster. That can be a significant advantage.

[horridohobbies]

I trust your assessment. Your research and analysis are very convincing. Yes, the Type 055 is probably the most powerful warship on the planet.

[radonsider]

Type055 is already powerful, cant think about 55A.

Can you do a video about Istif class from Turkey, they are a bit bigger version of Ada class with better AAW capability (Cenk-S AESA, Siper-B2 SAM (150km). Would like to hear your impressions

[jacksun]

How many warships do you need to feel secure when the United States builds over 300 military bases around your country?