Type 055B Guided-Missile Destroyer

The Type 055 destroyer (NATO/OSD designation Renhai-class cruiser) is a class of stealthy guided-missile destroyers (rated as guided-missile cruisers per NATO/OSD standard parlance) constructed for the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN). It has a multi-mission design; the combination of sensors and weapons provides a main role of area air defence, with anti-submarine warfare capabilities surpassing previous Chinese surface combatants. The Type 055 undertakes blue-water expeditionary missions and forms the primary escort for Chinese aircraft carriers. The United States classifies these ships as cruisers as the United States Navy (USN) defines a cruiser as a large multi-mission surface combatant with flag facilities; this suggests the U.S. expects the Type 055 to fulfill a similar role to the USN's Ticonderoga-class cruiser.

The Type 055B program is hypothesized as the logical evolution of China's advanced Type 055 Renhai-class destroyer, which entered service in 2020. Speculation regarding a 'B' variant emerged from defense analysts observing China's rapid naval expansion and the need to integrate emerging technologies like integrated electrical propulsion systems (IEPS). While no official construction milestones have been confirmed by the Chinese government, naval experts suggest the design could incorporate directed-energy weapons or electromagnetic railguns. If realized, the Type 055B would represent a significant leap in the PLAN's blue-water combat capabilities and its ability to challenge rival naval forces in the Indo-Pacific.