The Type 052D destroyer (NATO/ OSD Luyang III-class destroyer) is a class of

guided-missile destroyer A guided-missile destroyer (DDG) is a destroyer whose primary armament is guided missiles so they can provide anti-aircraft warfare screening for the fleet. The NATO standard designation for these vessels is DDG, while destroyers who have a pri ...

s in the

Chinese Chinese can refer to: * Something related to China * Chinese people, people of Chinese nationality, citizenship, and/or ethnicity **''Zhonghua minzu'', the supra-ethnic concept of the Chinese nation ** List of ethnic groups in China, people of v ...

People's Liberation Army Navy The People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN; ), also known as the People's Navy, Chinese Navy, or PLA Navy, is the maritime service branch of the People's Liberation Army. The PLAN traces its lineage to naval units fighting during the Chin ...

. The Type 052D is a larger variant of the Type 052C; the Type 052D uses a canister-type, instead of revolver-type,

vertical launching system A vertical launching system (VLS) is an advanced system for holding and firing missiles on mobile naval platforms, such as surface ships and submarines. Each vertical launch system consists of a number of ''cells'', which can hold one or mor ...

(VLS)Li: page 44 and has flat-panelled

active electronically scanned array An active electronically scanned array (AESA) is a type of phased array antenna, which is a computer-controlled array antenna in which the beam of radio waves can be electronically steered to point in different directions without moving the ant ...

(AESA)

radar Radar is a detection system that uses radio waves to determine the distance (''ranging''), angle, and radial velocity of objects relative to the site. It can be used to detect aircraft, ships, spacecraft, guided missiles, motor vehicles, ...

.McDevitt: page 62 The new VLS is not limited to

surface-to-air missile A surface-to-air missile (SAM), also known as a ground-to-air missile (GTAM) or surface-to-air guided weapon (SAGW), is a missile designed to be launched from the ground to destroy aircraft or other missiles. It is one type of anti-aircraft syst ...

s, making the Type 052D China's first dedicated multi-role destroyer.

Etymology

Chinese media informally calls the Type 052D the Chinese Aegis, portraying it as a peer of contemporary

United States Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage ...

ships equipped with the

Aegis Combat System The Aegis Combat System is an American integrated naval weapons system developed by the Missile and Surface Radar Division of RCA, and it is now produced by Lockheed Martin. Initially used by the United States Navy, Aegis is now used also by ...

.Holmes: page 4 The appearance of the Type 052D, with flat-panelled radar and canister-based VLS, has encouraged this informal use.

Design

Sensors

The Type 052D is equipped with Type 346A AESA and Type 518

L-band The L band is the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) designation for the range of frequencies in the radio spectrum from 1 to 2 gigahertz (GHz). This is at the top end of the ultra high frequency (UHF) band, at the lower en ...

radar. 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.

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. The VLS is reportedly an implementation of the

GJB 5860-2006 GJB 5860-2006 () is a Chinese military technical standard describing a vertical launching system (VLS) for all types of missiles aboard surface combatants. Cells have a square crosssection with sides, and may be , , or deep. Each cell carries on ...

standard. The VLS may fire the extended-range variant of the

HHQ-9 The HQ-9 () is a long-range semi-active radar homing (SARH) surface-to-air missile (SAM) developed by the People's Republic of China. The naval variant is the HHQ-9 (). Description The HQ-9 is a derivative of the Russian S-300. Justin Bronk ...

surface-to-air missile, YJ-18 anti-ship cruise missiles, and CY-5 anti-submarine missiles. The main gun is a 130 mm weapon. Early units were completed with 7-barrelled Type 730

close-in weapon system A close-in weapon system (CIWS ) is a point-defense weapon system for detecting and destroying short-range incoming missiles and enemy aircraft which have penetrated the outer defenses, typically mounted on a naval ship. Nearly all classes of l ...

(CIWS). This was replaced in later units by the larger 11-barrelled Type 1130 CIWS.

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 Link 16 is a military tactical data link network used by NATO and nations allowed by the MIDS International Program Office (IPO). Its specification is part of the family of Tactical Data Links. With Link 16, military aircraft as well as ship ...

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.

Propulsion

The powerplant is a

combined diesel or gas Combined diesel or gas (CODOG) is a type of propulsion system for ships that need a maximum speed that is considerably faster than their cruise speed, particularly warships like modern frigates or corvettes. For every propeller shaft there is o ...

(CODOG) system with two QC-280

gas turbine A gas turbine, also called a combustion turbine, is a type of continuous flow internal combustion engine. The main parts common to all gas turbine engines form the power-producing part (known as the gas generator or core) and are, in the direct ...

s and two MTU 20V 956TB92

diesel engine The diesel engine, named after Rudolf Diesel, is an internal combustion engine in which ignition of the fuel is caused by the elevated temperature of the air in the cylinder due to mechanical compression; thus, the diesel engine is a so-cal ...

s. The machinery drives two shafts for a maximum speed of .

Stretched variant

A stretched variant, commonly and unofficially referred to as Type 052DL, has a flight deck extended by , and an "anti-stealth radar".Chinese Navy commissions upgraded variation of the Type 052D destroyer
. ''Navy Recognition''. 3 March 2021. The extended flight deck is likely intended for the

Harbin Z-20 The Harbin Z-20 (Chinese: 直-20; official codename Chinese: “神雕”, "Divine Eagle") is a Chinese medium-lift utility helicopter produced by the Harbin Aircraft Industry Group (HAIG). It was first flown on 23 December 2013 and has a maximum ...

helicopter. The variant was in production by 2018.

Ships of class

Gallery

File:CNS Kunming (DDG-172).jpg, ''Kunming'' (172) File:CNS Kunming (DDG-172) docks at a harbor on Changxing Island 2.jpg, ''Kunming'' (172) at Changxing Island File:PLANS Hefei (DDG-174) 20160524.jpg, ''Hefei'' (174) File:PLAN 175 YinChuan.jpg, ''Yinchuan'' (175) File:PLANS Xiamen (DDG-154) 20180420.jpg, ''Xiamen'' (154) on 20 April 2018 File:20170803 03 Laivastovierailu Kiina.png, ''Hefei'' (174) during a visit to Helsinki in 2017

References

Bibliography

* * * {{Type 052 destroyer Destroyer classes Destroyers of the People's Liberation Army Navy