China Navy Tongchuan Commissioned

The 35th Type 052D (Luyang III-class) guided-missile destroyer, confirmed in service with the People's Liberation Army Navy's South Sea Fleet. Commissioning came to light on 31 May 2026 when CCTV Military aired footage of the warship bearing hull number 177 during a Children's Day event in Tongchuan, Shaanxi. The Type 052D is China's mainstay air-defence destroyer, displacing roughly 7,500 tonnes with a 64-cell vertical launching system firing HHQ-9 surface-to-air and YJ-18 anti-ship missiles. Tongchuan's entry into service underscores the pace of Chinese warship production, which continues to outstrip that of the U.S. Navy.