People's Liberation Army Navy Surface Force

Surface warfare branch of the People's Liberation Army Navy

The People's Liberation Army Navy Surface Force is the surface warfare branch of China's People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN), consisting of all surface vessels in operational service with the PLAN. The PLAN Surface Force operates 661 ships organized into three fleets: the North Sea Fleet, the East Sea Fleet and the South Sea Fleet. Since the late 20th century, the People's Liberation Army Navy has been turning away from its traditional focus on coastal and littoral warfare and instead prioritizing the development of blue water capabilities. This led to a significant reduction in overall fleet numbers as the PLAN has replaced a larger number of smaller ships with a smaller number of larger, more capable and versatile ships, including destroyers, frigates, corvettes, amphibious warfare ships and large auxiliary ships. However the growing number of "blue water" capable warships has risen, and fleet numbers are projected to reach more than 500 units by the close of the 2020s. Meanwhile, according to the China Military Power Report published by the Pentagon, as of October 2023, China has the numerically largest navy in the world with an overall battle force of approximately 370 surface ships and submarines, including over 140 major surface combatants — in comparison, according to the U. S. Naval Vessel Register, the United States Navy's battle force is approximately 292 ships and submarines.

The 60,900 tonne Liaoning is the first operational aircraft carrier in service with the PLAN. Liaoning, previously known as Varyag, is a Kuznetsov class aircraft carrier which the Chinese purchased from Ukraine in 1998 through a private tourist venture in Macau. At the time, Varyag was only 68% completed and stripped of all military equipment as well as her propulsion. After the purchase, Varyag was towed to Dalian, where she underwent extensive refurbishment, coordinated by the Dalian Shipbuilding Industry Company. On 10 August 2011, it was announced that the refurbishment of the new Liaoning was complete, and that the ship was undergoing sea trials. Liaoning was finally commissioned on 25 September 2012. In July 2011, a senior researcher of the Academy of Military Sciences said China needed at least three aircraft carriers for its fleet. During the same month, another Chinese official announced that two aircraft carriers were being built at the Jiangnan Shipyard in Shanghai; the aircraft carriers were reportedly based on a similar design to Liaoning, suggesting a displacement of approximately 65,000 tonnes. A new Chinese variant of the Sukhoi Su 33 fighter aircraft, known as the Shenyang J 15 (or Flying Shark) was expected to fly from the new aircraft carriers. In 2013, Chinese media reported that the PLAN is designing and planning to build a 110,000 tonne 'super aircraft carrier'. Media reports also stated that the current aircraft carriers under construction were based on Liaoning, but would be larger and would displace around 80,000 tonnes. The PLA Navy planned to establish three aircraft carrier battle groups by 2020. Liaoning and China's first domestically built carrier were to be part of the battle groups. One of the battle groups was to be deployed in the East China Sea, while the other two were to be deployed to the South China Sea. On 31 December 2015, it was announced that China was building a second carrier in STOBAR configuration, displacing around 50,000 tonnes, with a length of 300m and an estimated capacity of 50 aircraft. The hull was launched on 26 April 2017 and was estimated to be operational by 2020. This carrier—PLAN's second aircraft carrier, Shandong—was put in commission on 17 December 2019, prior the estimated year of operational status. China's third aircraft carrier, the Fujian, was begun in March 2015 and was launched on 17 June 2022. She is (start of 2024) currently undergoing trials).

Ships of PLAN are named per Naval Vessels Naming Regulation (中国海军舰艇命名条例) that was first issued by the Central Military Commission (CMC) on 3 November 1978, and subsequently revised 7 July 1986.