China commissions upgraded Type 052D guided missile destroyer Loudi

Key facts

• The Chinese People's’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy has commissioned a new Type 052D guided missile destroyer named Loudi.
• Zhang Shengwei, a crew member of the Loudi, said the warship adopts a new system and architecture, giving it enhanced combat capabilities in air defence, sea attack and task force command.
• The Loudi can conduct long-range assault and strike missions against its targets and also defend friendly ships in defensive missions.
• With the addition of Loudi, the Chinese navy has added 11 combat vessels, including the aircraft carrier Fujian, in 2025.
• China’s four largest shipyards - Dalian, Guangzhou, Jiangnan and Hudong-Zhonghua - produced 39 warships with a combined displacement of 550,000 tonnes between 2019 and 2023.
• China launched a fourth Hangor-class submarine named Ghazi for Pakistan last month; Pakistan has signed an agreement with China for eight Hangor-class submarines.