China Has Simulated a Battle Involving Its Type 055 Destroyer Against Eight Navy Destroyers East of Taiwan. The U.S. Should Be Concerned

The ability to neutralize multiple destroyers with more affordable assets could alter the dynamics in the Pacific.

Naval Ships
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Miguel Jorge

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Journalist specializing in technology and science.

In December 2024, the Pentagon released a report detailing China’s military advancements. The document indicated that the Asian nation had added about 100 nuclear warheads in the past year. As such, it reached an estimated total of more than 600 by mid-2024, with plans to exceed 1,000 by 2030. Among China’s naval fleets, one ship stands out: the Renhai-class destroyer cruiser (Type 055). A recent military simulation confirmed that this Chinese vessel not only surpasses its U.S. counterparts on paper.

Type 055. The Chinese ship features a 112-cell vertical launch system and multi-mission capabilities. It represents a class of stealth guided missile destroyers designed for various missions. These destroyers combine sensors and weapons for air defense and offer significantly superior anti-submarine warfare capabilities compared to previous models.

The Navy classifies the Type 055 ship as a “cruiser” and defines it as a large multi-mission surface combatant with flagship capabilities. Essentially, the U.S. has placed it in the same category as its Ticonderoga-class cruisers. While these specifications are impressive on paper, China is taking further steps to assess how the Type 055 would perform in an actual combat situation.

A new approach to naval warfare. A group of Chinese researchers led by AI expert Yu Minghui recently conducted a naval combat simulation. The team demonstrated how a combination of aerial drones and unmanned ships could engage and neutralize a U.S. battle fleet.

The simulation took place in the Western Pacific, east of Taiwan. In it, a single Chinese Type 055 destroyer faced off against eight U.S. Arleigh Burke destroyers, highly advanced vessels crucial to the Navy.

The “battle.” The simulation setup reportedly involved the Type 055 destroyer, one of the most formidable ships in the Chinese Navy, moving forward with two unmanned mother ships. These ships deployed 32 aerial drones and 14 unmanned vessels. In response, the U.S. launched 32 LRASM stealth missiles and Tomahawk cruise missiles, both designed for precision strikes and costing more than $3 million.

As the U.S. missiles approached, the drones and unmanned ships coordinated with the Type 055 to intercept and neutralize the incoming missiles. Once the attack concluded, the Chinese destroyer remained intact, and the unmanned units preserved enough ammunition to continue the defense.

The “kill web” concept. The study, published in the journal Warship Research by the China Ship Development and Design Center and Huazhong University of Science and Technology, introduces a new paradigm in naval warfare and highlights the extensive use of drones and unmanned ships. This would enable China to establish a so-called “kill web.” The “web” would serve as an efficient and low-cost attack and defense system capable of overcoming traditional combat frameworks.

The study emphasizes a departure from the Navy’s conventional strategy, which relies on carrier-led strike groups and manned destroyers. In contrast, China is pursuing an asymmetric approach that combines AI, drone swarms, and unmanned platforms. This strategy aims to reduce the vulnerability of China’s naval assets while maximizing their combat power.

Strategic implications. While this is just a simulation, it offers valuable insights into the advancement of naval technologies. It also suggests that China is developing tactics to neutralize the Navy’s numerical and technological superiority, particularly in relation to Taiwan.

In theory, the Chinese strategy seeks to reduce costs and enables Beijing to utilize expendable and unmanned units in conflict situations without jeopardizing high-value personnel or vessels. At the time of publication, the U.S. hasn’t publicly responded to the findings of this study.

Image | Asael Peña

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