In the modern world, leading naval powers are increasingly moving away from oversized warships, instead relying on maneuverable squadrons of missile frigates and destroyers. The logic is clear and pragmatic: as the saying goes, “the bigger they are, the harder they fall.” A compact modern frigate can be armed to the teeth, and losing one will not deal a fatal blow to the military budget. It would seem that the era of steel leviathans is a thing of the past. But what about naval prestige and the overwhelming power that only truly gigantic warships can project? What should a naval giant look like in the 21st century to not only survive among modern threats, but become the ultimate threat to any adversary? Chinese engineers and shipbuilders have found the answer. The result of their work is a ship that changes the rules of the game at sea. And that ship is our guest today!
CN Project CG90 is the latest Chinese guided-missile and gun cruiser project, specifically designed to dominate the modern battlefield and serving as a logical response to the changing nature of global naval warfare. Over the past few decades, the era of heavy artillery warships seemed to have disappeared forever, replaced by maneuverable destroyers relying almost exclusively on missile armament. However, modern geopolitical challenges have forced the world's leading military powers to reconsider their approach: there is once again a pressing need for large, autonomous combat units with impressive survivability and sustained firepower that does not rely solely on the limited ammunition capacity of missile launch cells. In this regard, the Chinese navy is demonstrating unprecedented modernization rates, creating warships capable of maintaining a long-term power projection and presence in contested waters around the globe.
As the result of an extensive search for the ideal balance between traditional naval artillery and cutting-edge technology, the ship is equipped with numerous advanced systems and features a flexible modular weapons architecture incorporating multiple naval guns. In addition to its formidable offensive potential, adapted to the realities of 21st-century network-centric warfare, the cruiser's design incorporates reinforced, deeply layered air defenses. This protection is intended not only to safeguard the ship's strike group against conventional aerial threats, but also to reliably neutralize strategic-level targets, including intercepting enemy submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs).
So, what is this Chinese giant like in combat? Its greatest strength lies in its phenomenal tactical flexibility and extensive arsenal. You can build it into either a deadly sniper, striking enemies from a distance with high-speed missiles and precise gun salvos, or a heavily armed assault ship designed for aggressive close-range combat. With four missile slots and six gun slots at its disposal, the ship can easily adapt to any task. For example, when fighting on the front line, simply equip guns with high damage per minute and durable missiles with fast reload times.
Almost every weapon system can be customized to suit your playstyle, with the exception of two unique integrated systems. The first is the versatile 100 mm PJE087 guns. Their key advantage is their dual-purpose capability: they can deliver dense, effective fire not only against enemy ships, but also against incoming enemy aircraft.
The second irreplaceable module is the exclusive long-range Project 640-3 surface-to-air missile system, which turns this ship into a strategically important force on the battlefield. Rather than focusing on conventional aircraft, this SAM system specializes in intercepting heavy ballistic missiles suddenly launched by enemy submarines. Thanks to its enormous range and high burst damage, it can destroy one or two incoming SLBMs, potentially saving both you and your allies from certain defeat by a devastating salvo.
Missile Battery (ASM) — YJ-18 [x2]
Missile Battery (ASM) — YJ-18 [x2]
Gun — H/PJ-45B [x2]
Gun — PJE087 (100 mm) [x4]🔒
Helicopter — WZ-19 CAIC [x1]
Autocannon — H/PJ-17 (30 mm) [x2]
Air Defense — H/PJ-11 (30 mm) [x2]
Air Defense — HQ-10 (FL-3000N) [x2]
Air Defense — Project 640-3 [x1]🔒
CN Project CG90 is more than just a classic cruiser — it is a true combat platform. By carefully selecting modules for specific tasks, an experienced captain can turn it into either a deadly sniper or a heavily armed assault ship built for fighting at the spearhead of an attack. This ship was made for victory, and it certainly won't be sitting idle in port!