Zitat:Analysis : List of Chinese Navy vessels commissioned in 2021

According to an infographic published by Louis Cheung HK on January 24, 2022, the People's Liberation Army Navy commissioned 32 vessels in 2021, including landing helicopter docks, one submarine, and destroyers. [...] The Type 094 (Jin class) is a class of ballistic missile submarines developed by China for the People's Liberation Army Navy Submarine Force. The Type 094 succeeds the Type 092 submarine and precedes the Type 096 submarine, which is under development. Hainan (31) is the lead ship of the Type 075 landing helicopter dock of the People's Liberation Army Navy. She was commissioned on 23 April 2021. Guangxi is a Type 075 landing helicopter dock Guangxi (32) was launched in April 2020 and started sea trials on December 20, 2020. [...]

Lhasa (102), Anshan (103), and Dalian (105) are Type 055 destroyers of the People's Liberation Army Navy. The Type 055 large destroyer is a class of stealth-guided missile destroyers being constructed for the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy. It is a multi-mission design; the combination of sensors and weapons suggests a main role of area air defense, with anti-submarine warfare capabilities surpassing previous Chinese surface combatants.

Suzhou (132) is a Type 052DL destroyer of the People's Liberation Army Navy. Suzhou was launched on 19 December 2018 at the Jiangnan Shipyard in Shanghai. She was commissioned in 2020. Huainan (123) is a Type 052DL destroyer of the People's Liberation Army Navy. On 2 March 2021, Huainan, Tangshan, Qiqihar, and Zhangjiakou conducted a training exercise in the Yellow Sea. The Type 052D destroyer (Luyang III-class destroyer) is a class of guided-missile destroyers in the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy. The Type 052D is a larger variant of the Type 052C; the Type 052D uses a canister-type, instead of revolver-type, vertical launching system (VLS) and has flat-paneled active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar.

Zitat:China’s New Naval Mystery: Mini Zumwalt Stealth Vessel

What appears at first sight to be a U.S. Navy Zumwalt Class destroyer, is actually something quite different. A new and mysterious boat has been observed in China. [...]

The blurred outline of a boat, resembling the U.S. Navy’s Zumwalt Class destroyer, is silhouetted in the haze. Behinds it is a mountainous shoreline with shipyard gantry cranes.

This is an initial analysis based on a single image. We do not believe that it is a hoax, but caveats apply. Although China has an incredible shipbuilding capacity, with many yards, it seems unlikely that it could be a full-sized warship. Such a development would be hard to hide. But like the recent mystery submarine, China has a proven track record of surprising the world with smaller unknown vessels. The description given in the original posts is that it is a test boat out for trials. This seems to be the best explanation, as opposed to a new warship class. [...] China has already built one Sea Hunter clone. That trimaran appeared in September 2020 although it has since been traced back to at least August 2019. It was built at a small shipyard on the Yangtze river, Jiang Tongfang New Shipbuilding Co., Ltd., which is not normally associated with major PLAN projects.

Zitat:Pentagon: Chinese Navy to Expand to 400 Ships by 2025, Growth Focused on Surface Combatants

China is building more modern surface combatants and expanding its aircraft carrier and logistics force to grow its naval influence further from shore, according to the Pentagon’s annual report on Chinese military power. By 2025, the People’s Liberation Army Navy is expected to grow to 400 hulls, up from its fleet of 340, according to the Pentagon’s annual China military report estimates released on Tuesday. [...]

The report, which sums up Chinese military developments in 2021, pegs the growth to the PLAN adding more major surface combatants. The ship total dipped last year from 355 due to a transfer of more than 20 older corvettes to the China Coast Guard. “At the close of 2021, the PLAN was building an aircraft carrier, a new batch of guided-missile destroyers (DDG), and a new batch of guided missile frigates (FFG),” reads the report. The bulk of the surface expansion is contained in two programs, the 7,500-ton Luyang III guided-missile Type-52D destroyers and the larger 13,000-ton Type-55 Renhai-class guided-missile cruisers, according to the report.

Zitat:Pentagon Assesses The PLA Navy’s Modernization And Growing Aggression

The Pentagon’s annual assessment of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) – entitled the 2023 Report on Military and Security Developments Involving the People’s Republic of China – was published on 19 October. [...]

It highlighted an alarming trend of aggression as Beijing wields the PLA as a “capable instrument of statecraft”. The US DoD warned: “Throughout the year, the PLA adopted more coercive actions in the Indo-Pacific region, while accelerating its development of capabilities and concepts to strengthen the PRC’s ability to ‘fight and win wars’ against a ‘strong enemy’, counter an intervention by a third party in a conflict along the PRC’s periphery, and to project power globally.”

These conclusions were underscored just two days later when a swarm of China Coast Guard and Maritime Militia vessels deliberately obstructed Philippine vessels, even colliding with one, in the vicinity of Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea. The Philippine vessels were there to resupply the garrison on the beached BRP Sierra Madre. [...]

The PLAN is numerically the largest navy in the world, “with an overall battle force of over 370 ships and submarines, including more than 140 major surface combatants”.

What is astounding in this statement is that the total number has risen 30 from the 340 vessels listed in the 2022 report. Nor does this include 60 Houbei-class missile boats. With 140 major surface combatants listed, this number has expanded by 15 compared to 2022. Note that the report essentially covers developments till late 2022 or early 2023. The Chinese naval fleet is “largely composed of modern multi-mission ships and submarines,” and there is little let-up in production either.

Zitat:China Builds World’s First Dedicated Drone Carrier

The world knows about China’s first three carriers; the largest and most capable, the Type-003 Fujian, is currently undergoing sea trials. This new carrier is very different. Its claim to fame will not be that it is larger. Instead, we are confident that this ship is the world’s first dedicated fixed-wing drone carrier.

The design is smaller than the regular aircraft carriers, with a flight deck approximately one third the length and half the width of a U.S. Navy or Chinese Navy (PLAN) super carrier. For comparison, it is slightly shorter but wider than a World War Two escort carriers. It would be possible to operate fixed wing aircraft from it, but its straight deck arrangement would be anachronistic, not allowing aircraft to take off and land at the same time. Additionally there doesn’t appear to be space for a typical aircraft hangar, so the number of aircraft would be greatly limited. It does make sense as a drone carrier however.

Zitat:China tests new family of amphibious infantry fighting vehicles to replace the Type 05 [...]

China is developing a new generation of amphibious infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) to replace the existing Type 05 family. Recent imagery reveals a new platform that could feature an unmanned turret and an active protection system (APS). The vehicle, identified by hull number 003, appears to incorporate mobility and survivability improvements for amphibious operations. [...] Reports indicate that the new amphibious IFV, identified by hull number 003, could integrate multiple sensor systems for target acquisition and active defense, likely forming part of a hard-kill APS. This approach differs from Western designs that use composite or NERA armor as layered passive armor, which increases weight. The Chinese model prioritizes active defenses, which are suited for light vehicles where conventional armor provides limited protection. [...]

The Type 05 amphibious combat vehicle family was developed in the early 2000s to replace older platforms such as the Type 63A amphibious tank. The People's Liberation Army required a high-speed amphibious vehicle capable of over-the-horizon deployment and increased firepower.

Zitat:China Deploys New Liaowang-1 Space Tracking Ship Capable of Monitoring U.S. Military Satellites and Missile Launches [...]

Recently revealed through photos circulating on Chinese social media, this imposing ship features prominent radar domes and massive high-gain antennae—engineered with a focus on function over aesthetics. As the successor to the Yuan Wang-class vessels, in service since 1977, the Liaowang-1 signals the beginning of a new era in China's strategy to integrate naval operations with space-based military support. [...] Maritime space tracking vessels like the Liaowang-1 serve as mobile command centers for monitoring space operations and collecting telemetry from rockets, spacecraft, and satellites. [...]

From a strategic military and geopolitical perspective, these tracking ships play a pivotal role in modern warfare and national security. Global space coverage is a primary function: launch windows and satellite orbits often traverse maritime zones that land-based radars cannot reach. Ships like Liaowang-1 fill these blind spots, enabling China to maintain a persistent link with its space missions—tracking from launch to orbital insertion and beyond. Additionally, with China expanding its fleet of military satellites for the Beidou navigation system, space-based surveillance, and secure communications, Liaowang-1 ensures continuous support and monitoring of these critical assets.