Chinese navy commissions trio of apex predators
Three new vessels at Sanya Naval Base are commissioned into the PLAN. (CCTV)
The Chinese naval fleet grows by at least 60,000t in a single day as three new ships enter service.
Coinciding with the 72nd anniversary of its founding, on 23 April the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) commissioned three warships emblematic of its naval ambitions – a Type 075 LHD, a Type 055 guided-missile cruiser and a Type 094 SSBN.
Commissioning three capital vessels in one go is unprecedented, and their total tonnage comes to at least 60,000t. Such a figure eclipses the naval fleets of several regional countries such as the Philippines.
Chairman Xi Jinping attended the commissioning ceremony at Sanya Naval Base on Hainan Island, with all three entering the navy’s South Sea Fleet.
Alarmingly, a headline in
Already have an account? Log in
Want to keep reading this article?
Read this Article
Get access to this article with a Free Basic Account
- Original curated content, daily across air, land and naval domains
- 2 free stories per week
- Daily news round-up email service
- Access to all Decisive Edge email newsletters
Unlimited Access
Access to all our premium news as a Premium News 365 Member. Corporate subscriptions available.
- Original curated content, daily across air, land and naval domains
- 14-day free trial (cancel at any time)
- Unlimited access to all published premium news
More from Naval Warfare
-
![Navantia signs deal to supply new Avante 2200 corvettes to Saudi Arabia]()
Navantia signs deal to supply new Avante 2200 corvettes to Saudi Arabia
The vessels are the latest additions to an ongoing supply arrangement for Saudi Arabia’s defence force.
-
![Naval Warfare Preview 2025: Billion-dollar programmes will advance but unpredictable forces muddy the waters]()
Naval Warfare Preview 2025: Billion-dollar programmes will advance but unpredictable forces muddy the waters
Large programmes around the world are likely to be immune to flux, but the impact of geopolitics could be unprecedented in 2025.
-
![Saab Sea Giraffe to protect Swedish Navy]()
Saab Sea Giraffe to protect Swedish Navy
The Swedish manufacturer will supply its Sea Giraffe 1X naval radar in a range of configurations.
-
![South Korean Destroyer fleet approved for US improvement programme]()
South Korean Destroyer fleet approved for US improvement programme
The US State Department has agreed to sell South Korea technology to keep its Destroyer fleet effective as a deterrent.
-
![STM to build logistics support vessels for Portuguese Navy]()
STM to build logistics support vessels for Portuguese Navy
The contract marks the first time the Turkish shipbuilder will build vessels for a NATO member state.
-
![UK-Australia meeting creates new AUKUS submarine integration office]()
UK-Australia meeting creates new AUKUS submarine integration office
The latest AUKMIN meeting created an important administrative office for submarine delivery.
