The Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy has commissioned another advanced Type 052D guided missile destroyer, further underscoring the rapid expansion and modernisation of China’s surface combat fleet. The newly inducted warship, named Ganzi and bearing Hull Number 128, was recently shown conducting intensive combat-oriented training exercises, according to footage released by state broadcaster China Central Television (CCTV) on Thursday.
Military analysts say the commissioning of Ganzi reflects both the maturity and adaptability of the Type 052D platform, which has emerged as the most prolific modern destroyer class in the PLA Navy. With dozens of vessels already in service or under construction, the class is widely viewed as a backbone of China’s surface fleet and a key enabler of its expanding blue-water naval ambitions.
According to the CCTV military channel, the destroyer Ganzi, affiliated with a naval destroyer detachment, recently advanced independently to an undisclosed maritime area in the Yellow Sea to carry out a comprehensive training programme. The exercises were designed to replicate realistic combat scenarios and were conducted under complex sea and weather conditions.
The training featured multiple subjects and full operational elements, reflecting the PLA Navy’s emphasis on realism and integrated combat readiness. Footage showed the vessel executing a wide range of drills, including anti-submarine warfare operations, night anchoring, mooring and unmooring from buoys, maritime search and rescue missions, and helicopter takeoff and landing exercises.
“These drills have effectively enhanced the naval officers and sailors’ sustained combat capabilities and emergency response abilities,” the CCTV report stated, adding that the training had laid “a solid foundation for the ship to form combat effectiveness at an early date.”
The exercises highlight a broader trend within the PLA Navy, which has increasingly focused on accelerating the transition of newly commissioned vessels from basic familiarisation to full operational readiness. Independent training deployments, particularly soon after commissioning, are seen as a crucial step in validating systems integration and crew proficiency.
The Ganzi is not the first newly commissioned Type 052D destroyer to be publicly revealed this year. On January 1, CCTV reported that another vessel of the same class, the Loudi, had officially entered service with the PLA Navy. The back-to-back announcements point to a steady induction pace that analysts say is likely to continue.
Zhang Junshe, a Chinese military affairs expert, told the Global Times on Thursday that the Type 052D is currently the most widely built destroyer class in the PLA Navy fleet.
“Dozens of vessels of this class have been unveiled in public reports so far,” Zhang said, noting that the destroyer’s design has proven well suited to large-scale production while still allowing room for continuous technological upgrades.
The widespread adoption of the Type 052D reflects the PLA Navy’s emphasis on standardisation and scalability, enabling it to rapidly expand its surface combat capabilities without relying on a fragmented mix of ship types.
The Type 052D destroyer represents a significant leap over earlier Chinese destroyer designs and is widely regarded as comparable to advanced destroyers operated by major naval powers. One of its most notable features is its universal vertical launch system (VLS), making it the first PLA Navy destroyer class to be equipped with this capability.
The universal VLS allows the ship to deploy a wide range of missiles from the same launch cells, including anti-aircraft, anti-ship, and anti-submarine munitions. This flexibility enables commanders to tailor each vessel’s loadout to specific mission requirements, significantly enhancing operational versatility.
In addition to its strike capabilities, the Type 052D is equipped with robust area air defence systems. According to Zhang, this makes the destroyer well suited to protecting high-value assets during open-sea operations.
“Its comprehensive air defence capability allows it to serve as a ‘bodyguard’ for aircraft carriers, alongside the larger Type 055 destroyers,” Zhang said.
This role is particularly important as China continues to expand its aircraft carrier fleet and refine carrier strike group operations. The Type 052D is expected to remain a core escort vessel for carrier formations for years to come.
One of the most notable details revealed in the CCTV footage of the Ganzi is an apparent upgrade to its main mast radar system. Compared with earlier Type 052D destroyers, the Ganzi appears to be equipped with a rotating dual-faced array radar, replacing the original mast radar configuration.
Zhang said the upgraded radar system represents a significant improvement in detection performance.
“This new type of radar essentially eliminates detection blind spots,” he explained. “It enables all-angle unobstructed detection with an extended detection range.”
According to Zhang, the radar upgrade not only enhances situational awareness but also improves the ship’s stealth performance and survivability at sea. By providing more comprehensive coverage and faster target acquisition, the system strengthens the destroyer’s ability to respond to air, surface, and potentially missile threats.
The introduction of such upgrades underscores the modular nature of the Type 052D design, which allows new technologies to be incorporated without fundamentally altering the platform. This approach enables the PLA Navy to keep the class technologically relevant even as newer ship types enter service.
Military experts widely regard the Type 052D as a cornerstone of the PLA Navy’s surface combat forces. While larger and more advanced vessels such as the Type 055 destroyers attract significant attention, analysts note that the sheer number and versatility of Type 052D ships give them outsized strategic importance.
Zhang said the destroyer’s continuous upgrades have steadily extended its detection range and enhanced its firepower and strike capabilities.
“These improvements have solidified its position as a backbone force of the PLA Navy’s surface fleet,” he said.
The Type 052D’s balance of capability, cost-effectiveness, and adaptability makes it particularly well suited for a wide range of missions, from high-intensity naval combat to peacetime presence operations and humanitarian assistance.
Beyond its role in safeguarding China’s immediate maritime interests, the Type 052D destroyer class has also played an important part in the PLA Navy’s growing international operational footprint.
According to Zhang, destroyers of this class have contributed significantly to missions aimed at safeguarding China’s national sovereignty, security, and development interests. At the same time, they have been deployed to fulfil China’s international responsibilities and obligations.
One prominent example is participation in escort missions in the Gulf of Aden, where PLA Navy task forces have conducted anti-piracy operations for more than a decade. Type 052D destroyers, with their advanced sensors, helicopters, and endurance, are well suited to such missions, providing protection for commercial shipping and contributing to regional maritime security.
These deployments have also given the PLA Navy valuable experience operating far from home waters, supporting China’s broader objective of developing a capable blue-water navy.
The early and intensive training of the Ganzi reflects the PLA Navy’s emphasis on shortening the timeline between commissioning and operational deployment. Independent training voyages, particularly those involving multiple combat and support scenarios, are seen as essential to validating both crew proficiency and systems integration.
Anti-submarine warfare drills, for instance, test the coordination between hull-mounted sensors, towed arrays, shipborne helicopters, and command systems. Night anchoring and mooring exercises challenge crews’ navigation and seamanship skills under reduced visibility, while maritime rescue drills assess the ship’s ability to respond to emergencies at sea.
Helicopter operations, a critical component of modern naval warfare, are especially demanding. Successful takeoff and landing exercises demonstrate not only flight deck readiness but also effective coordination between aviation crews and ship personnel.
Together, these training elements suggest that the Ganzi is being prepared for a wide range of operational tasks, from high-end combat to peacetime missions.
Analysts note that one of the most significant aspects of the Type 052D programme is its combination of mass production and continuous improvement. Rather than waiting for a completely new class to introduce technological advances, the PLA Navy has chosen to incrementally upgrade existing designs.
This approach allows lessons learned from earlier ships to be incorporated into later batches, as appears to be the case with the Ganzi’s upgraded radar system. It also ensures a high degree of commonality across the fleet, simplifying training, logistics, and maintenance.
“The Type 052D is a very capable class of warship that is suitable for mass production and continued upgrades,” Zhang said.
Such a strategy enables the PLA Navy to maintain a steady flow of modern vessels while avoiding the risks and delays often associated with entirely new designs.
The commissioning of the Ganzi comes amid heightened attention to naval developments in East Asia and beyond. While Chinese officials frame the expansion of the PLA Navy as defensive in nature, regional observers closely monitor the pace and scope of China’s naval modernisation.
The growing number of advanced destroyers enhances China’s ability to project power, protect sea lines of communication, and support joint operations with other branches of the military. At the same time, officials and analysts in China emphasise that these capabilities are intended to deter threats and contribute to stability.
As more Type 052D destroyers enter service, their cumulative impact on the PLA Navy’s operational capacity is expected to be significant. The class’s versatility ensures it will remain a central element of China’s naval force structure even as newer platforms are introduced.
With the Ganzi now commissioned and undergoing advanced training, attention is likely to turn to future Type 052D launches and upgrades. Given the class’s proven design and adaptability, analysts expect additional refinements in sensors, electronics, and possibly weapons systems in subsequent vessels.
For now, the induction of the Ganzi highlights the PLA Navy’s continued focus on building a modern, capable, and flexible surface fleet. As Zhang noted, destroyers of this class are already making “significant contributions” to China’s national defence and international maritime missions—a role that is set to expand as more ships join the fleet.
