Type 052D destroyer explained

The Type 052D destroyer (NATO/OSD reporting name: Luyang III-class destroyer)^[1] is a class of guided-missile destroyers in the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN), and currently one of the most numerous principal surface combatant classes in service of the PLAN Surface Force.

The Type 052D is a larger variant of the Type 052C, and has flat-paneled active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar,^[2] The Type 052D uses a canister-type (instead of 052C's revolver-type) vertical launching system (VLS),^[3] which is not limited to surface-to-air missiles, making it China's first dedicated multi-role destroyer.^[3]

Etymology

The Type 052Ds are fitted with the four-panel Type 346A (NATO reporting name: Dragon Eye) active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar system. Chinese media informally calls the Type 052D the Chinese Aegis (Chinese: s=中华神盾|hp=Zhōnghuá Shéndùn), portraying it as a peer of contemporary United States Navy ships equipped with the Aegis Combat System.^[4] The appearance of the Type 052D, with flat-panelled radar and canister-based vertical launch system, has encouraged this informal use.^[2]

Design

Sensors

The Type 052D is equipped with Type 346A^[5] AESA and Type 518 L-band radar.^[6]

The Type 052D is also equipped with both variable depth (VDS) and linear towed array sonar. The VDS is deployed through a hinged opening in the transom by a hydraulic lifting mechanism. The VDS body is a streamlined fairing fitted with Y-shaped hydrodynamic vanes for towing stability.^[7]

Armament

The Type 052D is the first Chinese surface combatant to use canister-based universal VLS, as opposed to the concentric type VLS carried aboard earlier vessels. 64 cells are carried, 32 forward and 32 aft.^[3] The VLS is reportedly an implementation of the GJB 5860-2006 standard.^[8] The VLS may fire the extended-range variant of the HHQ-9 surface-to-air missile, YJ-18 anti-ship cruise missiles,^[1] and CY-5 anti-submarine missiles.^[7]

The Type 054D has a main gun,^[2] and early units were completed with 7-barrelled Type 730 close-in weapon system (CIWS). This was replaced in later units by the larger 11-barrelled Type 1130 CIWS.^[9]

Data links

The Type 052D may be using the joint service integrated datalink system (JSIDLS) and naval common tactical data link (NCTDL). JSIDLS is equivalent to Link 16 and was certified in June 2012. NCTDL is a next-generation two-way encrypted data link with support for electro-optic and laser pod UAVs; it replaces the older HN-900.^[10]

Propulsion

The powerplant is a combined diesel or gas (CODOG) system with two 28lk=onNaNlk=on QC-280 gas turbines and two 6MW MTU 20V 956TB92 diesel engines.

The machinery drives two shafts for a maximum speed of 30kn.

Stretched variant

A stretched variant, commonly and unofficially referred to as Type 052DL, has a flight deck extended by 4m (13feet),^[11] and an "anti-stealth radar".^[12] The extended flight deck is likely intended for the Harbin Z-20 helicopter.^[11]

The variant was under construction by 2016, with the first unit (Zibo) launched in 2018 and commissioned in 2020. Construction of further units to this design are continuing at the rate of three or four vessels per year.^{[13] [14]}

Ships of class

The first three batches of the 052D Class totalled 30 ships. The fourth batch of 10 ships is currently under construction.

Pennant no.	Name	Namesake	Builder	Launched	Commissioned	Fleet	Status
Type 052D
172^[15]	昆明 / Kunming	Provincial capital of Yunnan, Kunming	Jiangnan Shipyard (Group) Co., Ltd., Changxingdao	28 August 2012	21 March 2014	South Sea Fleet	Active
173	长沙 / Changsha		Jiangnan Shipyard, Changxingdao	18 December 2012	12 August 2015	South Sea Fleet	Active
174^[16]	合肥 / Hefei	Provincial capital of Anhui, Hefei	Jiangnan Shipyard, Changxingdao	1 March 2013	12 December 2015	South Sea Fleet	Active
175^[17]	银川 / Yinchuan	Regional capital of Ningxia, Yinchuan	Jiangnan Shipyard, Changxingdao	28 March 2014	12 July 2016	South Sea Fleet	Active
117^[18]	西宁 / Xining	Provincial capital of Qinghai, Xining	Jiangnan Shipyard, Changxingdao	26 August 2014	22 January 2017	North Sea Fleet	Active
154^[19]	厦门 / Xiamen	City of Xiamen	Jiangnan Shipyard, Changxingdao	30 December 2014	10 June 2017	East Sea Fleet	Active
118^[20]	乌鲁木齐 / Ürümqi	Regional capital of Xinjiang, Ürümqi	Jiangnan Shipyard, Changxingdao	7 July 2015	January 2018	North Sea Fleet	Active
119^[21]	贵阳 / Guiyang	Provincial capital of Guizhou, Guiyang		28 November 2015	22 February 2019	North Sea Fleet	Active
155	南京 / Nanjing	Provincial capital of Jiangsu, Nanjing	Jiangnan Shipyard, Changxingdao	28 December 2015^[22]	April 2018	East Sea Fleet	Active
161	呼和浩特 / Hohhot	Regional capital of Inner Mongolia, Hohhot	Jiangnan Shipyard, Changxingdao	26 December 2016	12 January 2019	South Sea Fleet	Active^[23]
131	太原 / Taiyuan	Provincial capital of Shanxi, Taiyuan	Jiangnan Shipyard, Changxingdao	28 July 2016	3 December 2018	East Sea Fleet	Active^[24]
120	成都 / Chengdu		Dalian Shipbuilding Industry Company	3 August 2016	22 November 2019^[25]	North Sea Fleet	Active
121	齐齐哈尔 / Qiqihar	City of Qiqihar	Dalian Shipbuilding Industry Company^[26]	26 June 2017	14 August 2020	North Sea Fleet^[27]	Active
Type 052D (stretched)
156^[28]	淄博 / Zibo	City of Zibo	Jiangnan Shipyard, Changxingdao	14 August 2018	14 January 2020^[29]	East Sea Fleet	Active
122	唐山 / Tangshan	City of Tangshan	Jiangnan Shipyard, Changxingdao	7 July 2018	14 August 2020^[30]	North Sea Fleet	Active
132	苏州 / Suzhou	City of Suzhou	Jiangnan Shipyard, Changxingdao	18 December 2018	January 2021	East Sea Fleet	Active
123	淮南 / Huainan	City of Huainan	Jiangnan Shipyard, Changxingdao	15 April 2019	February 2021	North Sea Fleet	Active
162^[31]	南宁 / Nanning	Provincial capital of Guangxi, Nanning	Jiangnan Shipyard, Changxingdao	23 February 2019	12 April 2021	South Sea Fleet	Active
124	开封 / Kaifeng	City of Kaifeng	Dalian Shipbuilding Industry Company	10 May 2019	16 April 2021	North Sea Fleet	Active
165	湛江 / Zhanjiang^[32]	City of Zhanjiang	Dalian Shipbuilding Industry Company	10 May 2019	25 December 2021	South Sea Fleet	Active
164	桂林 / Guilin^[33]	City of Guilin	Jiangnan Shipyard, Changxingdao	26 September 2019	September 2021	South Sea Fleet	Active
133^[34]	包头 / Baotou	City of Baotou	Jiangnan Shipyard, Changxingdao	28 August 2019	28 December 2021	East Sea Fleet	Active
134^[35]	绍兴 / Shaoxing^[36]	City of Shaoxing (in Zhejiang)	Dalian Shipbuilding Industry Company	26 December 2019	February 2022	East Sea Fleet	Active
163	焦作 / Jiaozuo^[37]	City of Jiaozuo	Jiangnan Shipyard, Changxingdao	28 December 2019	January 2022	South Sea Fleet	Active
157	丽水 / Lishui^[38]	City of Lishui	Dalian Shipbuilding Industry Company	30 August 2020	June 2022	East Sea Fleet	Active

See also

• ; United States
• ; Australia and Spain
• ; India
• ; India
• ; Japan
• ; South Korea
• ; French/Italy
• Type 45 destroyer; British
• Type 055 destroyer; China

Bibliography

• Holmes . James R. . 15 February 2018 . Fleet Design with Chinese Characteristics . United States-China Economic and Security Review Commission . 28 April 2019 . 7 July 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180707092509/https://www.uscc.gov/sites/default/files/Holmes_Written%20Testimony.pdf . live .
• Li . Nan . Why Is the Surface Fleet Gaining Importance? . CSMI Red Book . 2017 . 14 . 43–54 . . 978-1-935352-45-7 . 28 April 2019 . 8 June 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190608170811/https://digital-commons.usnwc.edu/cmsi-red-books/13/ . live .
• McDevitt . Michael . The Modern PLA Navy Destroyer Force . CSMI Red Book . 2017 . 14 . 55–65 . . 978-1-935352-45-7 . 28 April 2019 . 8 June 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190608170811/https://digital-commons.usnwc.edu/cmsi-red-books/13/ . live .

Notes and References

1. 2019 . China Military Power: Modernizing a Force to Fight and Win . . 70 . 28 April 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190511175030/https://www.dia.mil/Portals/27/Documents/News/Military%20Power%20Publications/China_Military_Power_FINAL_5MB_20190103.pdf . 11 May 2019 . dead . dmy-all .
2. McDevitt: page 62
3. Li: page 44
4. Holmes: page 4
5. Tate . Andrew . 2017 . China heads for a step change in naval capabilities . Jane's 360 . 28 April 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180713134822/http://www.janes.com/images/assets/621/75621/China_heads_for_a_step_change_in_naval_capabilities.pdf . 13 July 2018 . live . dmy-all .
6. Web site: Majumdar . Dave . Construction of China's Type 055 destroyers forges ahead . USNI News . 14 May 2014 . 28 April 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190512081024/https://news.usni.org/2014/05/14/can-chinas-new-destroyer-find-u-s-stealth-fighters . 12 May 2019 . live . dmy-all .
7. Wong . Kelvin . 2017 . Undersea dragon: Chinese ASW capabilities advance . Jane's 360 . 28 April 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181026064743/https://www.janes.com/images/assets/911/72911/Undersea_dragon_Chinese_ASW_capabilities_advance.pdf . 26 October 2018 . live . dmy-all .
8. Web site: Wang . Weixing . 谜一样的战舰 从052D驱逐舰看中舰艇系统 . A Ship of Mystery: The Shipborne Systems of Type 052D . zh . 4 September 2012. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20121011231629/http://news.inewsweek.cn/news-32022-p-3.html. 2012-10-11.
9. Web site: Newly Built PLAN Type 052D Destroyers Getting Fitted with Larger H/PJ-11 CIWS . Navy Recognition . 25 July 2016 . 28 April 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181106172012/http://www.navyrecognition.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4239 . 6 November 2018 . live . dmy-all .
10. News: Bussert . James C. . China Destroyer Consolidates Innovations, Other Ship Advances . Afcea International . 1 December 2013 . 30 July 2020 . 12 November 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201112013412/https://www.afcea.org/content/china-destroyer-consolidates-innovations-other-ship-advances . live .
11. Web site: Tate . Andrew . More stretched Type 052D destroyers join the PLA Navy . Janes . 3 March 2021 . 8 March 2021 . 10 March 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210310043146/https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/more-stretched-type-052d-destroyers-join-the-pla-navy . live .
12. https://www.navyrecognition.com/index.php/news/defence-news/2021/march/9769-chinese-navy-commissions-upgraded-variation-of-the-type-052d-destroyer.html Chinese Navy commissions upgraded variation of the Type 052D destroyer
13. Web site: Tate . Andrew . China launches first stretched Type 052D destroyer . Jane's 360 . 31 July 2018 . 29 April 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190430032349/https://www.janes.com/article/82100/china-launches-first-stretched-type-052d-destroyer . 30 April 2019 . live . dmy-all .
14. Jane's Fighting Ships, 2023-24 Edition, ISBN 978-0-7106-3428 3, page 140.
15. Web site: Tate . Andrew . China commissions second Type 052D DDG, pushes ahead with frigate, corvette launches . Jane's 360 . 21 July 2015 . 29 April 2019.
16. Web site: Yao . Jianing . New missile destroyer joins South China Sea Fleet . China Military Online . 14 Dec 2015 . 29 April 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160811134656/http://eng.mod.gov.cn/DefenseNews/2015-12/14/content_4632673.htm . 11 August 2016 . live . dmy-all .
17. Web site: Yao . Jianing . China commissions new guided-missile destroyer Yinchuan . China Military Online . 12 July 2016 . 29 April 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181027024207/http://english.chinamil.com.cn/news-channels/2016-07/12/content_7150237.htm . 27 October 2018 . live . dmy-all .
18. Web site: Tate . Andrew . China's North Sea Fleet receives first Type 052D destroyer . Jane's 360 . 23 January 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170124103505/https://www.janes.com/article/67151/china-s-north-sea-fleet-receives-first-type-052d-destroyer . 24 January 2017 . 29 April 2019.
19. Web site: Rahmat . Ridzwan . China commissions sixth Type 052D-class destroyer into East Sea fleet . janes.com . 21 July 2017 . 21 July 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170929013036/http://www.janes.com/article/72509/china-commissions-sixth-type-052d-class-destroyer-into-east-sea-fleet . 2017-09-29 . dead .
20. United States Navy Office of Naval Intelligence . Office of Naval Intelligence . 19 February 2020 . PLA Navy Identification Guide . 29 July 2020 . dmy-all . 27 February 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200227035831/https://www.oni.navy.mil/Portals/12/Intel%20agencies/China_Media/2020_China_Recce_Poster_UNCLAS.jpg?ver=2020-02-19-081430-327 . live .
21. Web site: Tate . Andrew . Type 052D destroyer and Type 054A frigate enter service with PLAN . Jane's 360 . 5 March 2019 . 30 April 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190306234754/https://www.janes.com/article/87014/type-052d-destroyer-and-type-054a-frigate-enter-service-with-plan . 6 March 2019 . live . dmy-all .
22. Web site: Type 052D Kunming Class Destroyer - Chinese Navy. 2020-12-16. www.navyrecognition.com. 2020-02-16. https://web.archive.org/web/20200216164534/http://www.navyrecognition.com/m/index.php/component/content/article/165-chinese-navy-plan-destroyers-frigates/1448-type-052d-kunming-class-destroyer-china-chinese-navy-plan-guided-missile-destroyer-luyang-iii-052d-datasheet-pictures-photos-video-specifications.html. live.
23. Web site: China's Tenth Type 052D Destroyer and Sixth Type 071 LPD Commissioned with the PLAN. 24 January 2019. 24 April 2021. 24 April 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210424134422/https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2019/01/chinas-tenth-type-052d-destroyer-and-sixth-type-071-lpd-commissioned-with-the-plan/. live.
24. Web site: 2019-10-17. Chinese destroyer Taiyuan conducts joint training with Japanese destroyer Samidare. China Military. 2020-07-29. 2020-11-12. https://web.archive.org/web/20201112023855/http://eng.chinamil.com.cn/view/2019-10/17/content_9654712.htm. live.
25. Web site: 2020-05-05. 海军成都舰进行海上补给训练. 半岛网. 2020-07-29. 2022-01-22. https://web.archive.org/web/20220122195734/http://news.bandao.cn/a/367624.html. live.
26. Web site: Rahmat . Ridzwan Rahmat . China launches 13th Type 052D destroyer . 28 June 2017 . 16 December 2020 . Jane's 360 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170701021800/http://www.janes.com/article/71873/china-launches-13th-type-052d-destroyer . 1 July 2017.
27. Web site: 王世纯 . 052D"淮南"舰已经服役 . guancha.cn . 2 March 2021 . 16 April 2021 . 16 April 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210416182207/https://www.guancha.cn/WangShiChun/2021_03_02_582720.shtml . live .
28. Web site: 夏阳 . 杨宜修 . 改进型052D官宣入列东海舰队 反潜能力提升, 还能探测隐身目标 . eastday.com . 29 March 2021 . 16 April 2021 . 29 March 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210329140526/https://n.eastday.com/pnews/161701394177014572 . live .
29. Web site: 淄博舰已正式入列，舷号156 . 淄博市人民政府 . 14 January 2020 . 18 June 2021 .
30. Web site: Shipyard in China Launched the 25th Type 052D and 8th Type 055 Destroyers for PLAN . 30 August 2020 . 6 October 2020 . 30 December 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201230224830/https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2020/08/shipyard-in-china-launched-the-25th-type-052d-and-8th-type-055-destroyers-for-plan/ . live .
31. Web site: Liu . Zhen . 2021-06-15 . New Chinese destroyers sail in South China Sea amid shipbuilding spree . 2021-06-18 . South China Morning Post . en . 2021-06-17 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210617184918/https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3137400/chinese-navy-sails-new-destroyers-south-china-sea-amid-military . live .
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37. Web site: "河南舰队"再添新成员，开封、焦作或各命名一艘052D驱逐舰 .
38. Web site: 网易 . 2023-10-10 . 赞！丽水舰入列不到一年考核总分第一 . 2023-10-28 . www.163.com.