China is simultaneously building all four of its new Type 055 guided missile destroyers, which will serve as escorts to the aircraft carriers of the People's Liberation Army Navy Surface Force (PLANSF).

Satellite images from various western sources as of mid-April show substantial progress in the construction of these four destroyers.

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The lead ship of the Type 055-class began building at the Jiangnan Changxingdao shipyard near Shanghai in late 2014. As of this April, it appears to have all the modules that comprise this hull are in place. Photos also show most of the modules for the second ship are in position.

The other two destroyers are now being assembled at the Dalian Shipbuilding Industry Company. Modules for these two warships had been lifted from the dockside onto the keel blocks and assembly is underway.

Each displacing over 10,000 metric tonnes, the Type 055 will be largest destroyer in the PLANSF and among the largest in the world.

The Type 055 will feature "high speed, great cruising ability, long endurance and sound global seaworthiness," according to PLANSF sources. It will also have "outstanding stealth performance," thanks to "various stealth designs and comprehensive stealth means."

The Type 055 will be able to carry more than 100 missiles of various types in its vertical launching system (VLS). These missiles are anti-ship missile missiles; surface-to-air missiles; anti-submarine missiles and long-range land-attack cruise missiles.

This mix of missiles allows a Type 055 destroyer to attack targets as far away as 2,000 km, indicating a massive enhancement of ground attack capability. The destroyer also mounts a single 130 mm main gun.

The Type 055 was developed and built based on the needs of aircraft carrier battle group. Its medium-long-range and medium-short range air-defense missiles significantly improve its overall air defense capability.

It can also carry out air-defense, anti-submarine and anti-ship missions on its own or part of a task force.