Chinese navy commissions trio of apex predators
Three new vessels at Sanya Naval Base are commissioned into the PLAN. (CCTV)
The Chinese naval fleet grows by at least 60,000t in a single day as three new ships enter service.
Coinciding with the 72nd anniversary of its founding, on 23 April the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) commissioned three warships emblematic of its naval ambitions – a Type 075 LHD, a Type 055 guided-missile cruiser and a Type 094 SSBN.
Commissioning three capital vessels in one go is unprecedented, and their total tonnage comes to at least 60,000t. Such a figure eclipses the naval fleets of several regional countries such as the Philippines.
Chairman Xi Jinping attended the commissioning ceremony at Sanya Naval Base on Hainan Island, with all three entering the navy’s South Sea Fleet.
Alarmingly, a headline in
Already have an account? Log in
Want to keep reading this article?
More from Naval Warfare
-
![US Pentagon claims to have severely damaged Iranian capabilities, promises to increase attacks]()
US Pentagon claims to have severely damaged Iranian capabilities, promises to increase attacks
US military authorities claim to have sunk 20 Iranian vessels and destroyed Tehran’s Air Force, with the Pentagon making plans to send additional assets to the region.
-
![Greece’s newly commissioned FDI frigate deployed to Cyprus]()
Greece’s newly commissioned FDI frigate deployed to Cyprus
The recent naval modernisation efforts by the Hellenic Navy have been bolstered by the acquisition of advanced Naval Group frigates, the first of which was delivered in December 2025 and is now playing a crucial role in the latest Middle East conflict.
-
![US Navy SPY-6 approaches FRP with Raytheon already having “a hot production line”]()
US Navy SPY-6 approaches FRP with Raytheon already having “a hot production line”
Jen Gauthier, Raytheon’s VP of Naval Systems and Sustainment, told Shephard that the company is awaiting the US Navy’s green light to move “fully into full-rate production”.
-
![Ireland releases maritime strategy as it looks to new naval bases and stronger partnerships]()
Ireland releases maritime strategy as it looks to new naval bases and stronger partnerships
Ireland has a maritime area ten times the size of its land mass but has a limited naval capacity and faces an ongoing threat to critical underwater infrastructure. A new strategy is looking to address the challenge.
-
![What capabilities are being tested under AUKUS Pillar II?]()
What capabilities are being tested under AUKUS Pillar II?
Collaboration on AUKUS Pillar II extends beyond the core trilateral agreement, presenting global opportunities for companies with advanced technologies.
