China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC)

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Warship

China

China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC)

Type 055

A large guided-missile destroyer, sometimes classed as a cruiser due to its size and 112-cell vertical launch system, forming the escort backbone for China's carrier strike groups. It fields an integrated combat system with dual-band radar comparable to Western Aegis-equipped ships.

In service since 2020 · 1 operator countries

Compiled from public sources ·primary reference ↗ ·last verified 2026-07-02

12,000

5,000

nmi

112

VLS

300

crew

Several performance figures for China-origin systems are manufacturer or state claims with limited independent verification. Treat these specs as directional, not tested values.

Pricing: Unit cost not publicly disclosed

Procurement snapshot

Availability & export

Chinese state channel

State export agencies (NORINCO/CATIC); limited availability to Western-aligned states.

Channel: State export agency

Fielded & proven

Limited · 1 operator

In service since 2020. Status: active · ~8 built.

Lifecycle cost (est.)

No public unit price to model from.

Interoperability

Mk 41 VLS-class

Derived guidance from public data — export regime by country of origin, lifecycle from the GAO ~30% acquisition rule. Verify eligibility, pricing and offsets with the manufacturer and your acquisition authority.

Full specifications

Firepower

Armament, payload and guidance.

Main armament Primary weapon: main gun, cannon or missile type.: 1x 130 mm main gun
VLS cells Vertical-launch missile cells on a warship — a proxy for magazine depth. Higher means more missiles before rearming.: 112

Top 6% of warships

Physical

Dimensions, weight and crew.

Length Overall length including gun/probe where applicable.: 180 m

Naval

Displacement, speed, endurance and diving depth.

Displacement Standard displacement in tonnes — the ship’s size class. Larger hulls carry more but cost more and are less agile.: 12,000 t
Full-load displacement Displacement fully loaded with fuel, stores and munitions.: 13,000 t
Max speed Top speed in knots (surfaced, for submarines). Higher aids positioning and screening.: 30 kn

Stronger than 74% of warships
Range Cruising range in nautical miles. Nuclear vessels are effectively unlimited (fuel-wise). Higher means more reach without replenishment.: 5,000 nmi

Stronger than 38% of warships
Complement Crew size. Fewer eases manning cost; more may indicate a larger, more capable platform.: 300
Aircraft carried Embarked aircraft/helicopters. Higher extends the ship’s sensor and strike reach.: 2

Stronger than 51% of warships
Propulsion plant Machinery type — nuclear reactor, gas turbine (COGAG), CODAG, diesel-electric, AIP.: COGAG, 4x QC-280 gas turbines

Sensors & avionics

Radar, sensor suite and datalinks.

Radar Primary radar. AESA (active electronically scanned array) is the current state of the art.: Type 346B dual-band AESA radar
Sensors IRST, EO/IR turrets, laser designators, sniper pods, thermal sights.: integrated mast sensor suite, towed sonar array

Program

Cost, production scale and operators.

Units built Total production run. Higher means proven manufacturing, mature logistics and spares availability.: 8

Stronger than 85% of warships
Operator countries Number of countries operating the system. More operators means broader support ecosystem.: 1

Stronger than 45% of warships

Specifications compiled from public China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC) and reference sources ↗. Published defense figures are approximations — treat comparisons as directional. Last verified 2026-07-02.

Compare with rivals

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Frequently asked questions

What is the main armament of the China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC) Type 055? +

The China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC) Type 055's primary weapon is the 1x 130 mm main gun.

What is the China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC) Type 055 used for? +

The China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC) Type 055 is a warship typically used for air defense, deep strike.

How many countries operate the China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC) Type 055? +

The China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC) Type 055 is operated by 1 countries.

How much does the China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC) Type 055 cost? +

China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC) Type 055: Unit cost not publicly disclosed. Defense program costs are rarely fully public and vary by contract and configuration.