'Mysterious Behemoth': Details of China's Newest Battleship Revealed

The lack of information is understandable since "the ominous 'dreadnought' on the horizon," as expert on China's security policy Lyle Goldstein called the cruiser, is currently under development. The Pentagon estimated that it could enter construction phase in early 2016, but this has not been confirmed so far.

Meanwhile the semi-official Chinese magazine released detailed drawings and technical characteristics of the new vessel.

The 175-meter-long watercraft will be outfitted with four new types of missiles, including medium-range air defense and antisubmarine missiles, as well as long-range air defense missiles and supersonic long-range anti-ship missiles.

The Type 055 destroyers will also brandish long-range land attack cruise missiles and a sea-based missile interceptor. It will have ninety-six vertical launching systems, meaning the ship will not only be able to carry more weapons, but also larger missiles.

In addition, "the all-important phased array radars have been upgraded to include both X-band and S-band arrays – and thus may be on par with America's top air-defense ships," Goldstein quoted the magazine as saying. 

The radars, the analyst added, "deliver the ship's core competence. Like the Aegis-equipped destroyers that formed the model for its predecessors, Type 055's main mission is still certain to be fleet air defense, including for Beijing's nascent carrier battle groups."

The Type 055 guided missile destroyer's other missions will likely include missile defense and "antisatellite" operations.