PLA sends 3 advanced Type 055 destroyers for training exercise in South China Sea
- The drill to ‘test the effectiveness of various combat methods’ came amid heightened tensions with the Philippines in the disputed waters
It is rare for the People’s Liberation Army to deploy three of its Type 055 guided-missile destroyers in a single training mission and the operation came as tensions are running high following a series of clashes involving Chinese and Philippine coastguard ships.
The exercise ran for six days and five nights and involved the warships Xianyang, Zunyi and Yanan. It was “focused on maritime assault, anti-submarine operations, and single-ship air defence in a certain area of the South China Sea to test the effectiveness of various combat and training methods”, state broadcaster CCTV reported on Wednesday.
The drill was carried out by the PLA’s Southern Theatre Command, which oversees the South China Sea. CCTV said one Type 052C guided-missile destroyer, the Haikou, was also involved in the drills.
The first Type 055 destroyer entered service in 2020 and the PLA Navy now has eight in total. The ships were designed for a range of operations including anti-submarine and land attacks, as well as helping defend carrier groups from aerial attack.
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CCTV said the Type 055 guided missile destroyer uses China’s most advanced radars, electronic systems and weapons and can play a key role in near and far-sea missions.