China’s 11,000-Ton Destroyer Publicly Revealed For The First Time Taking Down Foreign Aircraft

China Central Television (CCTV), the state broadcaster, recently aired pictures and videos of ‘Yan’an’, a Type 055 guided-missile destroyer and one of the most advanced surface combatants in the Chinese naval fleet, undertaking electronic countermeasures in waters close to Taiwan.

The destroyer entered service in 2022 and was assigned to the South Sea Fleet based out of Zhanjiang.

First Public Appearance Of China’s Most Powerful Destroyer

This is the first time the warship was publicly shown in a series highlighting China’s expanding naval power and how Beijing uses electronic warfare to tackle foreign military craft.

Per media reports, the destroyer activated its system to warn and then disrupt foreign aircraft, showing how Beijing is transforming its deterrence strategy and maritime patrols in contested waters.

The video footage showed the crew members taking position as aircraft were seen approaching the vessel. A sailor on watch ordered the shipboard side to get ready as the destroyer’s advanced systems tracked and targeted several groups of aircraft, altering their path.

The warship was then seen shifting its radar systems to high-power to widen the range of attack and target detection.

Simultaneously, the electronic warfare system readied missiles capable of active and passive jamming.

The Yan’an then called for support from the Shandong carrier, which sent 3 aircraft to identify the foreign planes. After identification, the destroyer fired 4 electronic jamming missiles, per the broadcast.

In the footage, a crew member named Wang Liang explained that modern naval warfare is not just about a single ship but how a naval formation and other systems work together across air and sea domains.

Technical Specifications

Yan’an (Hull 106) is the 6th vessel of the Type 055 Class of guided-missile destroyers, though the U.S Department of Defence classifies them as Renhai-class cruisers, given their size and capabilities.

Named after Yan’an, the birthplace of the Chinese revolution, the vessels serve as escorts for carrier strike groups and a medium for long-range power projection.

The Type 055 is one of the most heavily armed surface combatant ships, often compared to the Ticonderoga-class cruisers of the U.S Navy.

The destroyers have a displacement of 11,000 tons, are 180 m long and 20 m wide with a top speed of over 30 knots and a complement of 300 plus personnel.

Serving as a mighty guard for aircraft carriers such as Shandong, the destroyer’s presence in the South China Sea and its recent movements near the Middle East signal Beijing’s intention of using it as a tool for deterrence and naval diplomacy.

Ammunition & Other Onboard Systems

The Yan’an’s principal strength is its 112 Vertical Launch System cells, 64 forward and 48 aft, which enable it to fire a wide range of ammunition, including-

• HHQ-9B long-range surface-to-air missiles
• YJ-18 supersonic cruise missiles
• YJ-21 hypersonic missile (anti-ship ballistic missile)
• CJ-10 land-attack cruise missiles
• Yu-8 rocket-assisted torpedoes for anti-submarine warfare

The destroyer also has a 130mm H/PJ-45 naval gun and an 11-barrel 30mm Close-In Weapon System (CIWS).

It features a sloped superstructure and an enclosed forecastle, which reduces the Radar Cross Section.

China’s evolving naval warfare strategy

The broadcast did not clarify which foreign aircraft were involved in the encounter; however, the development comes amidst simmering tensions near Taiwan.

In December 2025, the US approved $11.1 billion in new arms sales to the island, a move which drew strong criticism from China.

Beijing is also in a heated relationship with Japan since its Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said that if China targets Taiwan, Tokyo will respond strongly.

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