What appears to be a new 155mm naval gun, the largest of its kind yet seen on a Chinese warship, has been mounted on a weapons trials vessel, signalling a potential expansion of the People’s Liberation Army Navy’s surface firepower.
Images circulating online show a Type 910 test ship fitted with a large-calibre turret on its bow while docked at Liaoning Shipyard, also known as Dalian Liaoning South Shipyard. The facility sits adjacent to the PLAN’s Lushun Naval Base and has previously supported advanced naval development projects.
If confirmed, the weapon would exceed the calibre of any gun currently in operational service with the People’s Liberation Army Navy.
Larger Than Current PLAN Guns
The largest gun presently deployed on Chinese surface combatants is the 130mm single-barrel system known as the H/PJ-38 or H/PJ-45. The design first appeared on the Type 052D destroyer in the early 2000s and is also fitted to the newer Type 055 destroyers. It was reverse-engineered from the Soviet-era AK-130 twin-barrel naval gun.
While the maximum range of the Chinese 130mm system has not been publicly disclosed, the original AK-130 is reported to have a range of approximately 14 miles (23 kilometres). A shift to a 155mm calibre would likely provide increased range and payload capacity.
A previously circulated image of a data plate linked to the new system indicates the gun weighs around 21,800 kilograms (approximately 48,060 pounds) and is capable of firing guided projectiles.
Reports suggest the weapon may have been developed by Inner Mongolia Northern Heavy Industries Group, a division of China North Industries Group Corporation (NORINCO), which manufactures a range of ground-based 155mm howitzers and heavy artillery systems.
Amphibious and Multi-Role Potential
Naval analysts note that 155mm guns have traditionally been associated with naval gunfire support for amphibious operations. A larger-calibre system could enhance China’s ability to bombard targets ashore during landing operations, including in scenarios involving Taiwan or disputed areas of the South China Sea.
The PLAN has expanded its amphibious capabilities in recent years, including the construction of the Type 076 amphibious assault ship Sichuan and continued additions to its Type 075 fleet. China has also acquired specialised barges with jack-up legs, reportedly intended to establish temporary piers following beach landings.
Beyond shore bombardment, a 155mm naval gun could potentially be employed against surface vessels and, depending on munition type, aerial threats.
Globally, 155mm artillery has become a platform for advanced munitions development. In the United States, research has included ramjet-assisted projectiles, glide munitions and hypervelocity rounds capable of engaging land, sea and air targets. The US military has previously demonstrated the interception of subsonic cruise missiles using hypervelocity rounds fired from ground-based 155mm howitzers.
Such developments highlight the potential for naval 155mm systems to offer a lower-cost alternative to missiles in certain scenarios.
Questions Over Naval Gun Relevance
Despite these advantages, modern naval warfare is dominated by missile systems, an area in which China has invested heavily. Even with increased range, a naval gun would still require a vessel to operate relatively close to its intended target.
Similar debates have played out in the United States. The Zumwalt-class destroyer was originally designed around two 155mm guns firing long-range guided rounds. However, the high cost of ammunition led to the guns being sidelined, and the ships are now being refitted with hypersonic missile launch systems.
China has also previously experimented with electromagnetic railgun technology, unveiling a prototype mounted on a PLAN vessel in 2018. The current status of that programme remains unclear. The development of a conventional 155mm naval gun may represent a more near-term and technically mature solution.
Testing Underway
The appearance of the 155mm system aboard a Type 910 test ship suggests the programme has moved beyond the conceptual phase and into early at-sea evaluation.
While further details remain limited, the sighting indicates China is actively exploring an expansion of its naval gun capabilities.
Whether the system will be deployed on future destroyers, cruisers or amphibious assault ships remains to be seen. However, the introduction of a 155mm naval gun would mark the most significant increase in gun calibre for Chinese surface combatants in decades.
