The Type 052D guided missile destroyers (Improved batch) are a new generation of Type 052D guided missile destroyers built by China. With a full load displacement of approximately 8,000 tons, their origins can be traced back to the first generation of the Type 052, built in the 1990s. After numerous improvements and upgrades, this batch features new radars, and adopts a next-generation data system to better enable systematic and networked operations. Furthermore, they are equipped with guns with enhanced stealth capabilities, and their appearance has been optimized to enhance their stealth performance. This represents another leap forward in the platform's stealth capabilities, electronic informationization, and network-centric warfare capabilities. The Type 052D series, equipped with a 130mm naval gun, a 1130-CIWS, a 64-cell universal vertical launch system, a 24-cell HQ-10 SAM launcher, four multi-purpose decoy launchers and 2 torpedo launcher.The 4th batch Type 052D equip a towed sonar release hatch at the stern, and space for a new Z-20F anti-submarine helicopter in the aft hangar.

After the latest 052D enters service in 2025, it will form a combination with the more advanced Type 055 destroyer, forming the core of the Chinese Navy's current long-range combat capability, greatly enhancing the comprehensive combat capability and endurance of the Chinese Navy's fleet in complex electromagnetic environments.