It looks to be about the same size, if not exactly the same size. TBH this will all depend on what the largest (square) panel on the main mast is. If that is an X- or C-band MFR, it means that the big cheek panels on the 055 represent a new variant of the 346A, maybe "346B", in which the S-band portion has been completely separated from the C-band portion. If you then still have a panel with the same overall dimensions, that means the S-band will then occupy the entirety of the panel and will consequently house more T/R modules for a bigger and more powerful radar. A clue to a possible new variant radar may come in the form of no "windshield wipers" present on the 055, though this could easily be because they haven't been installed yet. Hopefully these "wipers" don't represent any function of importance for the 346/A because that would probably represent a potential single-point failure for that entire panel.
Maybe 10,000 standard and 12,000 full. If it is 10,000 full then this ship is just about the size of a Ticonderoga cruiser.
There is nothing in that video that shows the aft VLS section (unless you saw something I didn't), so the question of 112 vs 128 is still open technically, though I think it seems rather unlikely that it will be 128 at this point.
BTW, the correct spelling is "hangar" not "hanger". Those large panels are certainly a mystery. Also, the rectangular recessed panels below the bridge wings and on the helicopter deckhouse are different in size from each other, with the rear one being longer. I doubt they are any kind of ECM emitters. I was thinking those might be air intakes?? The 056 has something like this but much smaller; then again I don't know if the 056 panels are ventilation-related either.
In any case, some other observations:
1) the bow sonar bulb is just huge. This could represent a new hull-mounted sonar system for the PLAN.
2) the enclosed foredeck is obvious just from the presence of those "peepholes" above each hawse fairlead. No need to even look top down to confirm.
3) there seem to be 7 or 8 rectangular structures above the bridge arranged in an octagonal formation. I thought there would just be 4 of them which would kind of box them into being IFF antennas. But now there are 3 or 4 (can't see the base of the main mast) additional smaller rectangular structures interspersed between the larger ones. They are clearly different in size and shape (especially the rear faces). I wonder if these could be navigational radars?
4) the ESM mast is somewhat different from the Wuhan mockup, though this could be accounted for by some form of new exterior shielding for the purpose of RCS reduction or perhaps weatherproofing.
5) the RHIB garages are in fact located amidships as speculated, and not at the helicopter deckhouse.
6) the amidships hump behind the stacks seems to have air intake functions based on the preliminary photos (though we'll see if this holds up). In addition to be potentially sucking up missile exhaust from the rear VLS section, it is on the same level as the amidships weather deck itself which means people will be walking right past the intakes. I guess they should be careful about walking too close to the vent openings....
7) the railing on the amidships weather deck seems to either have not been installed or is using the standard rod and chain railing instead of the solid sheet metal railing.
8) the chaff/flare launchers seem to be a different design from the ones we have seen on the other ships. Specifically the launcher tubes seem to be have a cover that has possibly been stealthified.
9) the radar dome on top of the helicopter deck could either be a satcom or a data link. It's certainly not a VSR.
9) the only thing important left to see is the aft VLS section. I almost feel like the PLAN photographers are deliberately withholding this bit of fan-favorite information just to get a rise out of us.
10) oh, and the ass-end of course. Whether or not there is a large panel opening in the transom for a VDS.
