Stealth

The Type 055 adopts a conventional flared hull with distinctive stealthy features including an enclosed forecastle that hides mooring points, anchor chains, and other equipment. The bow and main deckhouse are configured similarly to previous Type 052C/D destroyers. A continuous structure amidship increases internal volume and reduces radar cross-section. The smokestack design reduces both infrared signature and radar cross-section.^[8] Chinese sources credit the design as being generally stealthy, with reduced radar, noise, infrared, and electromagnetic radiation signatures.^[30]

Power plants

Propulsive power is generated by four 28 MW QC-280 gas turbines in combined gas and gas arrangement. Additional power may be provided by six 5 MW QD-50 gas turbines.^[8]

The maximum speed is estimated to be 30 knots.^[2]

Electronics

Chinese literature suggests that the Type 055 is capable of "facilitat[ing] command management of a battlegroup and supporting elements". The command-and-control and battle management systems are likely comparable to contemporary PLAN systems, which reflect over a decade of intensive interest in information integration from the late 2000s.^[31]

Multiple sensors are housed inside the integrated mast and ship superstructure.^[12] The class has a dual-band radar system; four S-band Type 346B Dragon Eye active electronically scanned array (AESA) panels are mounted on the superstructure, and four smaller^[32] X-band^[10] panels are mounted on the mast. The Type 346B panels are estimated to be 40% larger than the Type 052D destroyer's Type 346A panels, for greater transmission power and sensitivity.^[32] Chinese sources claim the radar has anti-stealth capability^[33] and can be used to guide anti-satellite missiles.^[32]

The ship structure also contains navigation radars, various communication and intelligence systems, electronic warfare support measures (ESM), electronic countermeasures (ECM), electro-optical (EO) sensors, laser-warning systems, optronic jammers, and datalink systems. They are likely more advanced than those deployed on previous ships.^[12][8]

A deployment port exists for variable depth^[8] and towed array sonar.^[8][10] The large bulbous bow likely contains a bow sonar;^[10][8] the Type 055 may mount a larger bow sonar than previous Chinese surface combatants.^[8]

Armament

The primary armament are missiles carried in 112 vertical launching system (VLS) cells,^[7] 64 cells forward and 48 cells aft. The same VLS model is used on the Type 052D destroyer,^[8] which is believed to be an implementation of the GJB 5860-2006 standard;^[34] the GJB 5860-2006 is capable of hot and cold launches using concentric canisters.^[35] The longest variant, with 9-metre cells, is likely used.^[8] The Type 055 is expected to carry HHQ-9 surface-to-air missiles, YJ-18 anti-ship cruise missiles, CJ-10 land-attack cruise missiles, and missile-launched anti-submarine torpedoes upon entering service.^[7] Potentially, the larger cells may also carry anti-ship ballistic missiles.^[36][37]

Additional armament includes a 130-mm main gun, a 11-barrel 30-mm close-in weapon system (CIWS), a HHQ-10 short-range air defense system, 324-mm torpedo launchers, and decoy launchers. There is hangar space for two helicopters.^[12]