Chinese Navy
The rise of China’s modern navy is one of the most significant developments in global military affairs in the 21st century. From a largely coastal defense force in the 1980s, the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) has grown into a formidable blue-water fleet, capable of projecting power far from China’s shores. This transformation has been driven by a combination of vast state investment, rapid shipbuilding, technological innovation, and a long-term strategic vision to challenge maritime dominance in the Indo-Pacific and beyond.
As of 2024, China operates the world’s largest navy by number of ships, with over 370 warships in active service. This includes aircraft carriers, submarines, destroyers, frigates, corvettes, and a wide array of amphibious and auxiliary vessels. The shipbuilding pace shows no signs of slowing, with projections estimating over 395 warships by 2025 and more than 435 by 2030. The scale of this build-up is unprecedented in peacetime and reflects China’s intent to become a global maritime power.
At the heart of the PLAN’s modernization are its three aircraft carriers. The Liaoning, a refitted Soviet vessel, serves primarily as a training and testing platform. The Shandong, China’s first domestically built carrier, has introduced more indigenous systems and improved aircraft handling. The most advanced of the trio, the Fujian, was launched in 2022 and is equipped with electromagnetic catapults, suggesting China is pushing toward parity with the most capable Western carrier designs. A fourth carrier, reportedly nuclear-powered, is already under development.
The backbone of the surface fleet lies in the modern destroyers and frigates. The Type 055 destroyers, displacing over 13,000 tons, are among the most powerful surface combatants in the world. These ships are fitted with 112 vertical launch cells that can fire anti-air, anti-ship, and land-attack missiles. They are supported by the slightly smaller but still highly capable Type 052D destroyers, which carry 64 vertical launch cells and are equipped with advanced AESA radars and electronic warfare systems. Together, these ships provide layered air defense and significant offensive reach.
Frigates such as the Type 054A and the newer Type 054B serve as versatile workhorses in the fleet. The Type 054B, entering service in 2025, features enhanced sensors, quieter propulsion, and a 32-cell vertical launch system capable of deploying a range of missiles, including surface-to-air and anti-submarine variants. Corvettes, particularly the Type 056 class, offer coastal and littoral defense capabilities, many of which are now being transferred to the Chinese Coast Guard to focus the navy on blue-water operations.
Amphibious capabilities have expanded in tandem with the surface fleet. The Type 071 amphibious transport docks and the newer Type 075 helicopter landing docks allow China to project ground forces onto foreign shores. These vessels carry helicopters, landing craft, tanks, and troops, and form a key element of China’s strategy in the South China Sea and for potential Taiwan contingencies. The Type 076, currently under development, is expected to introduce drone operations and electromagnetic catapults for launching unmanned aircraft.
China’s submarine fleet is also growing in both size and sophistication. The nuclear-powered Jin-class ballistic missile submarines form the seaborne leg of China’s strategic nuclear triad, each carrying up to 12 JL-2 submarine-launched ballistic missiles with intercontinental range. Attack submarines include both nuclear-powered and diesel-electric models. The Yuan-class submarines, equipped with air-independent propulsion, represent a major leap in stealth and endurance for China’s conventional submarine forces. The nuclear attack submarine fleet is expected to grow significantly, with newer models designed to close the gap in capability with the U.S. Navy’s Virginia-class and the UK’s Astute-class submarines.
Weapon systems across the fleet reflect China’s growing technological prowess. The PLAN now fields a wide range of missiles, including the YJ-18 anti-ship cruise missile, CJ-10 land-attack missile, and CY-5 anti-submarine missile. Surface ships and submarines carry vertical launch systems that allow them to deploy these missiles in all directions and in various combat scenarios. Air defense systems include the HHQ-9 and HHQ-10 surface-to-air missiles, while close-in weapon systems like the H/PJ-11 and Type 730 offer last-ditch protection against incoming threats.
Stealth, networked operations, and electronic warfare are also being integrated at scale. Many Chinese warships now feature radar-reducing hull shapes and materials, enclosed sensors, and digital combat management systems. Radars such as the Type 346A AESA offer long-range tracking and targeting of both air and surface targets, while electronic warfare suites are designed to jam enemy radars, communications, and sensors.
Despite its rapid rise, the PLAN still faces challenges. Its aircraft carrier aviation is less mature than that of Western navies, and the overall combat experience of the fleet is limited. However, China’s massive industrial capacity, state-driven research and development, and unified strategic focus suggest these gaps will narrow in the coming years.
