The Chinese taskforce to participate in the China-Russia "Maritime Joint Exercise 2013" consisting of the main combat warships from the North China Sea Fleet and the South China Sea Fleet of the Navy of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLAN), including the Shenyang, Shijiazhuang, Wuhan and Lanzhou guided missile destroyers, the Yancheng and Yantai guided missile frigates, as well as the “Hongze Lake” comprehensive supply ship, together with 3 new-type ship-borne helicopters and a special operation detachment, left for Russia to participate in the exercise.

The Shenyang warship, a Type-051C guided missile destroyer with the hull number of 115, which entered into service in 2006, is currently one of the newest type of guided missile destroyers independently developed and produced by China. Deployed in the North China Sea Fleet, the Shenyang guided missile destroyer takes charge mainly of the taskforce’s area air-defense and the mission of key-point air-defense.

With an overall length of 154 meters, width of 17.1 meters, height of 35 meters, full load displacement of 6,600-plus tons, maximum speed of 29 knots, and a cruising speed of 17 knots, it can safely navigate through any water areas except for icy areas and Polar Regions.

The destroyer's major equipment includes two sets of ship-borne air-defense guided missiles imported from Russia, two sets of quadruple-mounted anti-submarine guided missile launchers, a 100-mm single-tube gun, two Type-730 close-in weapons systems (CIWS), and two triple-mounted anti-submarine torpedo launching tubes.

 
The Shijiazhuang warship, a Type-051C guided missile destroyer with the hull number of 116, which entered into service under the North China Sea Fleet in 2007, is the sister ship to the Shenyang guided missile destroyer.

The Type-054A Yantai guided missile frigate with the hull number of 538 entered into service under the North China Sea Fleet in June of 2011.

It is currently the first type of anti-submarine frigate of the PLAN to own the area air-defense capability. With the length of 134.1 meters, maximum width of 16 meters, full load displacement of 4,053 tons, maximum speed of over 27 knots, cruising speed of 18 knots, cruise endurance of 4,000 nautical miles, self-sufficiency capability of 15 days, and wind-proof capacity over Level-12, it can safely navigate through any water areas except for the Polar Regions.

The Yantai guided missile frigate is primarily equipped with three-dimensional planar radar designed independently by China, a 32-unit vertical launching system, anti-submarine weapon systems, CIWS, ship-to-ship guided missile system, primary gun weapon system, and a ship-borne anti-submarine weapon system. It can carry a Z-9 or Ka-28 helicopter. In terms of performance, it is currently an advanced frigate on international level.

The Yancheng warship, a Type-054A guided missile frigate with the hull number of 546, entered into service in June 2012 in a destroyer flotilla under the North China Sea Fleet of the PLAN.

The Wuhan warship, a Type-052B guided missile destroyer serving in a destroyer flotilla under the South China Sea Fleet, is one of the main battle ships among those domestically-produced destroyers in active service with the most modernized degree, the most advanced equipment performance, and the strongest comprehensive combat capability.

With a design of 155.5 meters in length, 7.2 meters in width, 35 meters in height, it features a normal displacement of 5,300 tons, full load displacement of 5,600 tons, cruising speed of 18 knots, a maximum speed of 29 knots, and a capability to resist strong wind up to Level-12. With endurance of as far as 4,000 nautical miles, it can cruise in any unlimited navigation areas except for the Polar Regions.

The Wuhan warship is capable of such diversified military tasks and responsibilities as taskforce covering, area air-defense, taskforce command, attack on enemy surface ships and submarines, as well as escorting naval taskforces.

Independently researched on and designed by China, the Type-052C Lanzhou guided missile destroyer has a length of 155.5 meters, width of 17.2 meters, height of 36 meters, displacement of 6,000 tons, cruising speed of 18 knots, maximum speed of 29 knots, and a capability to resist Level-12 strong wind. With an endurance of 4,000 nautical miles, it can cruise in any unlimited navigation areas except for the Polar Regions.

It is also China's first warship to be equipped with a multi-function phased array radar (MPAR), being able not only to lead ship-to-air guided missile attacks but also to guide Chinese aircraft to engage in combats. It is thus praised as the "Chinese Aegis".

The warship is also China's first warship to be equipped with the vertical launch device for HHQ-9 guided missiles, the ship's primary medium-range and long-range air-defense weapon. With vertical launch and aerial ignition, the HHQ-9 missile's far-reaching range and sensitive response system make it capable of intercepting multiple batches of air targets simultaneously.