The Type 055 destroyer (NATO/OSD designation Renhai-class cruiser)[18] is a class of stealth 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.[19]
The Type 055 undertakes blue-water expeditionary missions[20] and forms the primary escort for Chinese aircraft carriers.[19] The United States classifies these ships as cruisers[21] as the United States Navy (USN) defines a cruiser as a large multi-mission surface combatant with flag facilities;[22] this suggests the U.S. expects the Type 055 to fulfill a similar role to the USN's Ticonderoga-class cruiser.[19]