The Type 909 (NATO reporting name: Dahua) is a class of Chinese auxiliary ship. Four were built for the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) as weapon trial and oceanographic research ships.
History The first ship, Bi Sheng, was completed as a weapons test range ship with Russian MR-90 "Front Dome" radar and electronic countermeasures. It operated as an electronic intelligence ship near Japan in February 2000 prior to PLAN exercises. Bi Sheng was converted into a weapon trial ship at the Wuhu shipyard, and received pennant number 891 in October 2002; while at the shipyard the hull was designated "Wuhu-B" by Western intelligence. Bi Sheng was equipped with "Top Plate" air search radar and "Front Dome" fire control radar and may have test fired the CJ-10 land-attack cruise missile in August 2012.
The design of the third ship, Zhan Tianyou, may have been a modified Type 636 hydrographic survey ship. It had a raised bow breakwater and an enclosed, instead of a lattice, foremast.
According to the International Institute for Strategic Studies, by 2024 two were used as weapon trial ships and two were oceanographic research ships.
Designation In 2015, Janes listed Zhan Tianyou and Li Siguang as Type 909s. By 2024, the United States Navy considered these ships to be Type 910 weapon trials ships.
Ships of class
Pennant number Name Builder Laid down Launched Commissioned Fleet Status Notes 851 Bi Sheng Zhongua Shipyard March 9, 1997 North Sea Fleet Active Launched with pennant number 909 and completed as 970. Pennant changed to 891 in October 2002. 852 Hua Luogeng Hudong–Zhonghua Shipbuilding March 30, 2006 North Sea Fleet Active Former pennant number 892. 893 Zhan Tianyou November 12, 2011 North Sea Fleet Active 894 Li Siguang 2012 November 2013 October 2014 North Sea Fleet Active
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