On April 23, 2021, China launched three new naval vessels, including the first Type 075 amphibious assault ship, the Hainan. New platforms planned to be deployed around the South China Sea and Taiwan include Type 055 destroyer Dalian and Changzheng 18, a Type 094 nuclear submarine capable of launching JL-1 and JL-2 ballistic missiles.
After the amphibious assault ship Hainan was launched in September 2019, the second ship landed in 2020 and the third platform was introduced in January this year. China launched type 075 ships in six-month periods. The platforms have 30,000 tons of displacement and about 30 helicopters can be deployed.
Dalian, a destroyer 180 meters long and 20 meters wide, became the third ship of its class to enter service.
The last platform China commissioned on the same day was the Changzheng 18 submarine. The nuclear submarine is 135 meters long and can be equipped with a ballistic missile.
211216-N-QI061-1222 NAVAL STATION MAYPORT, Fla. (December 16, 2021) An MQ-4C Triton Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS), assigned to Unmanned Patrol Squadron 19 (VUP-19), sits on the flight line at Naval Station Mayport, Florida, Dec. 16, 2021. VUP-19, the Navy’s first Triton squadron, will continue to maintain and operate the aircraft off the East Coast to further develop the concept of operations and refine tactics, techniques, and procedures. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Nathan T. Beard/ Released)