At present, in the Jiangnan Shipyard, the Type 9 destroyer of the No. 055 ship has been successfully launched, while the No. 10 ship, which started a month late, is undergoing first-class operations, and the No. 11 ship has entered the stage of merging the hull sections. Regarding the specific number of construction of the second batch of Type 055 destroyers, there is no clear announcement yet.
At present, the mainstream view is divided into two types: one is that the second batch will build four Type 055 destroyers. This view is based on the fact that the latest launch of the No. 9 ship has not undergone major changes, such as not being equipped with electromagnetic guns, and it is unlikely to be equipped with an all-electric propulsion system, but only an upgrade of the electronic system. Four QC280 gas turbines provide approximately 150,000 horsepower for the Type 055 destroyer, which is 40% more than the U.S. Navy's Burke III destroyer, indicating that the Type 055 destroyer has a lot of room for upgrade. The main purpose of the second batch is to validate cutting-edge technologies such as all-electric propulsion systems, electromagnetic guns, etc., before large-scale construction.
On the other hand, the East China Sea Fleet is not currently equipped with any Type 055 destroyers, and the strength of the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force is continuing to increase, and the East China Sea Fleet urgently needs Type 055 destroyers to strengthen its strength, so the second batch of Type 055 destroyers will be built specifically for the East China Sea Fleet and will all be put into service with the East China Sea Fleet.
Another opinion is that the second batch of Type 055 destroyers will be built in eight. According to this view, in view of the disparity in strength between the Chinese Navy and the US Navy, as well as the long construction period of aircraft carriers, if eight Type 055 10,000-ton destroyers can be commissioned within three to five years, the overall strength of the Chinese Navy will be greatly enhanced. From the commissioning of the first Type 055 destroyer, the Nanchang to the entry into service of the 108 Xianyang ship, it has been commissioned in less than three years, so it is not difficult to serve eight Type 055 destroyers in three to five years. In addition, the Type 055 destroyers built later can continue to be upgraded and improved on the basis of existing systems.
Whether four or eight are built, this will not be the end of the construction of Type 055 destroyers. The total number of Type 055 destroyers to be built will not be less than twenty, since it can accomplish tasks that are difficult for other frigates to achieve; In modern naval warfare, interception is not carried out by firing only a few missiles, as in exercises. Once war breaks out, it may face a saturation attack by enemy ships with missiles, and the Type 052D destroyer has only 64 vertical launch systems, which makes it difficult to intercept all incoming missiles. The Type 055 destroyer is equipped with 112 large-caliber vertical launch systems, and after being loaded with YJ-21 anti-ship missiles, YJ-18 cruise missiles, and anti-submarine torpedoes, it can still accommodate nearly 100 Hongqi-9B anti-aircraft missiles, achieving both offensive and defensive capabilities.
The Type 055 destroyer is also equipped with a dual-band radar and an integrated radio frequency system, capable of simultaneous interception.
With 50 incoming targets, the long-range detection, target tracking and combat command capabilities far exceed those of Type 052D destroyers, making them an indispensable escort force for aircraft carriers in ocean-going operations.
At present, South Korea already has three 10,000-ton "King Sejong"-class destroyers, while Japan's 10,000-ton destroyers include four "Kongo"-class, two "Atago"-class, and two "Maya"-class, a total of 11 destroyers. Therefore, in order to gain absolute superiority among the 10,000-ton destroyers of Japan and South Korea, more Type 055 destroyers are needed.
With the rapid development of various types of ships in the Chinese Navy, the fourth batch of Type 052D destroyers has begun to be launched, and the total number is about to exceed 35. The new 054B frigate, the 076 amphibious assault ship and aircraft carriers are also under construction, and a powerful people's navy is rapidly rising.