The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy recently held drills in the East China Sea making its first public appearance of the latest version of the Type 052D destroyer. The destroyer is more powerful with its anti-stealth aircraft-capable.

In early July, a destroyer flotilla affiliated with the PLA Eastern Theatre Command Navy conducted training exercises at an undisclosed location in the East China Sea. The training subjects included air and missile defences, attacks on surface vessels, and joint anti-submarine operations, the PLA Daily.

The guided-missile destroyer Zibo, with hull number 156, attended the drill.

The Zibo entered military service on January 12. It is the PLA Navy's first ship of the improved version of the Type 052D destroyer, which is dubbed the Type 052DL.

Compared to the original Type 052D, the Type 052DL has a longer helicopter deck, and it is equipped with a new, meter wave long-range radar on its after-mast. The ship may carry China's most advanced Z-20 ship-borne helicopter.