A U.S. Navy P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft was lased by People’s Republic of China (PRC) navy destroyer 161 on Feb. 17 while flying in airspace above international waters approximately 380 miles west of Guam.
The Chinese naval shipbuilding industry maintained its impressive production rate in 2019. In the past week alone, no less than 3 destroyers and a corvette were launched by various yards.
Since 2012, Chinese shipyards have launched 60 Type 056 corvettes and 20 Type 052D destroyers, illustrating once again the incredibly fast growing pace of the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN or Chinese Navy).
China's tenth Type 052D Destroyer (NATO reporting name: Luyang III class) and Sixth Type 071 Landing Platform Dock (NATO reporting name: Yuzhao class) were both commissioned with the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN or Chinese Navy) on 12 January 2019. Our colleagues from Eastpendulum reported that both vessels joined the PLAN South Sea Fleet.
