The Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy has discreetly incorporated the Ganzhi missile destroyer (no. 128), belonging to the Type 052D class, into its fleet.
The ship officially entered service in December 2025, but visual confirmation that it is already fully operational has only become public now, after its participation in naval exercises in the Yellow Sea.
Commissioned as the 33rd Type 052D destroyer, Ganzhi reinforces the PLA Northern Fleet at a time of clear acceleration of the Chinese naval program. The year 2025 marked a historic record for the class: seven units were introduced into service in just twelve months — more than double the previous average annual pace, estimated at around three ships per year.
The Type 052D class is considered a mainstay of the Chinese surface navy, equipped with modern radar systems, vertical missile launches and advanced air defense and anti-submarine capabilities. The current pace of construction indicates that the program continues at high speed, with expectations that the total number of Type 052D destroyers will exceed 40 units in the coming years.
The Ganzhi’s quiet entry into service, followed by its appearance in actual exercises, reflects Beijing’s increasingly common practice of reducing public announcements and letting operational activity itself confirm the expansion of its naval capabilities.
Source and images: Chinamil. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
