Background:
The 052D class DDG is the successor to the 052C class anti air warfare DDG.
052D inherits the same overall hull and certain weapons and sensors
from its predecessor, and fields an identical propulsion arrangement,
but also boasts many improved capabilities such as a new type of main
gun, an improved active phased array radar (APAR), as well as a much
improved vertical launch system (VLS) with greater cell count. It is
likely that 052D also boasts substantial internal upgrades such as
improved combat management systems, a more modern combat information
centre (CIC) and generally more capable mission related software and
hardware.
Ancestry of the 052D class can be traced back to the original two
ship 052 class DDGs commissioned in 1994, through to the improved 052B
class DDG, and the Chinese Navy’s first aegis type long range AAW 052C
class DDG. Each of these classes pioneered new capabilities for the
Chinese Navy. The 052 class was the first Chinese Navy surface combatant
equipped with gas turbines and various imported western combat
management systems and sensors which would help guide development of
indigenous combat systems and integration aboard future warships. The
052B class DDG was the first domestically produced surface combatant
fielding an area air defence capability via the imported Russian naval
Shtil SAM, however only two were produced. The 052C class DDG in turn
was the Chinese Navy’s first surface combatant equipped with an advanced
multifunction APAR providing fixed 360 degree coverage as well as the
first Chinese warship equipped with a VLS and a naval SAM capable of
true long range coverage through the HHQ-9. 052C enjoyed a longer
production run than its successors, reaching six ships after a
multi-year delay in production after the first pair were produced.
052D fields a more compact, more multi-role and generally more capable
VLS compared to 052C, and is equipped with an improved variant of the
Type 346 APAR dubbed the Type 346A, and also features new weapons
systems such as a new 130mm gun designated PJ-38 and the HQ-10 missile
CIWS. 052D is also the most stealthy 052 derivative (despite far from
approaching the very low observable nature of the Zumwalt class DDG),
and likely fields the newest generation of combat management systems,
datalinking, and command capabilities.
However, despite the impressive qualitative advancements of the 052D
class, it is the quantitative factor where 052D is most unique. 052D is
the first class of destroyer that the Chinese Navy has immediately
produced in serial production since it began its modernization drive in
the mid 1990s. Previous Chinese destroyer classes were only produced in
pairs, likely due to the Chinese Navy’s need to rapidly test and absorb
new technologies and capabilities, but also probably due to the Navy’s
relative dissatisfaction for their capabilities compared to
international gold standard destroyers such as the US Navy’s Burke class
DDG or the Royal Navy’s Type 45 DDG.
052D production began after 052C production without pause, where the
first 052D DDG was launched in late August 2012, barely two months after
the sixth and last 052C DDG was launched in mid July 2012. Since then,
052D production has continued, and indeed, production has been expanded
to two shipyards rather than one.
Production of the first eight 052Ds occurred at Jiangnan shipyard at
Changxing island near Shanghai, the same shipyard where the entire 052C
class were produced. In early 2015, photo evidence finally confirmed
long standing rumours that 052Ds were under construction by Dalian
shipyard at the northern coastal city of Dalian. Jiangnan shipyard is
currently producing 052Ds on one production line in one building hall,
and the fact that they have launched seven 052Ds in the span of three
years suggests a very impressive and efficient shipyard. Dalian shipyard
appears to be constructing two 052Ds simultaneously in parallel,
however production at Dalian also seems to be somewhat slower than at
Jiangnan.
The first 052D was commissioned in late March 2014, and a second 052D
was commissioned in early August 2015, with a third vessel expected to
be commissioned in late 2015 or early 2016. At time of writing, two
052Ds are commissioned, three 052Ds are in various stages of sea trials,
and another two 052Ds are currently being fitted out, with one further
052D expected to be launched in late 2015 or early 2016, all at Jiangnan
shipyard alone. Dalian shipyard is simultaneously constructing two
052Ds and is expected to launch its first 052D in early 2016, and its
second 052D in late 2016 or early 2017.
As of present, the consensus exists that that twelve 052Ds were ordered
by the Chinese Navy, with eight ships to be constructed by Jiangnan
shipyard and four by Dalian. Considering the rate of work at both
shipyards, it is conceivable that all twelve 052Ds may enter service by
or before 2020.
However, recent rumours have also posited that the Chinese Navy may
order a further twelve 052Ds for a total production run of twenty
four ships. If such rumours are true, then projection of when twenty
four 052Ds may enter service is complicated by the expected 055 class
large DDG within the next few years, which is expected to be produced at
both Jiangnan shipyard and Dalian shipyard in not-insubstantial numbers
as well. However, assuming 052D production at both shipyards is
maintained without pause to fulfill a further twelve 052Ds, it is
plausible that a full twenty four 052Ds could be commissioned by the
early 2020s, even alongside initial construction of the 055 class.
But even assuming “only” twelve 052D class DDGs are produced, this
number of warships combined with the six 052C class DDGs will provide
the Chinese Navy with a substantial number of modern aegis type surface
combatants by 2020.
Mass production of the 052D class DDG will likely do for the Chinese
Navy’s destroyer fleet what the 054A class FFG has done for the Chinese
Navy’s frigate fleet – specifically, the 052D class DDG will finally
provide the Chinese Navy a modern, competitive destroyer class with
qualitative capabilities in strategically relevant and flexible
quantities.
General Specifications:
Dimensions and Layout
Dimensions of the 052D class are generally similar to its 052C class
predecessor, and picture evidence suggests no meaningful difference in
either length (155 meters) or beam (17 meters). 052D may feature a
slightly increased displacement compared to 052C, and some open sources
have speculated a maximum displacement of 7,500 tons. Official
disclosures from Chinese state media and the Chinese military do not
seem to be available, however they also may deliberately under-represent
the full displacement of their warships. Therefore, extrapolating from
052C’s estimated actual full displacement, and comparing to other
similarly sized warships, 052D may have a full displacement in excess of
7,000 tons, making it a medium to heavy weight surface combatant.
052D appears to feature the same propulsion as the 052C class, in a
Combined Diesel or Gas (CODOG) arrangement, featuring domestically
produced QC280 gas turbines, a license produced version of the Ukrainian
DN80. Output of the QC280s has been listed at 28 megawatts, however
some outlets have suggested it may be lower at only 23 megawatts – this
discrepancy may reflect initial shortfalls in performance by early
prototypes and trials. Nevertheless, it is expected that 052D would be
capable of reaching speeds in excess of 30 knots, similar to the 052C
class DDG.
052D is equipped with a hangar and a helipad both of similar size to
the 052C, however the hangar is set in a more aesthetically pleasing
centreline within the aft superstructure as opposed to offset port like
in 052C.
052D’s forward superstructure and deckhouse follows the same 052C and
Burke style arrangement where four fixed radar arrays dominate the
superstructure, however compared to 052C, each array is wider,
necessitating an associated modification in overall proportions and
scaling. As a a result of these small modifications, 052D’s
superstructure appears to be more pleasing to the eye than 052C.
Armament
The first most visible difference in armament between 052D and 052C,
is the 052D’s substantially larger main gun. 052D’s main gun is the
PJ-38 130mm gun, and is a highly modernized, single barrel version of
the Russian AK-130 equipped aboard the Navy’s Sovremenny class DDGs
first bought from Russia in the early 2000s. The PJ-38 is thought to be a
substantially more reliable and capable gun than the 052C’s 100mm
French main gun design, not only fielding a larger calibre (and thus
with associated larger shell size and greater range) but is also said to
be able to fire a variety of extended range munitions, smart munitions,
and air defence munitions, thus increasing the flexibility of 052D’s
anti surface and anti air capabilities overall.
052D fields the same PJ-12 seven barrel 30mm CIWS as the 052C on its
bow CIWS platform, however the aft PJ-12 aboard 052C has been replaced
by a 24 cell HQ-10 SAM based CIWS on the helicopter hangar. This CIWS
arrangement is somewhat reminiscent of the Republic of Korea Navy’s
Sejong class DDG which fields a RIM-116 RAM launcher on the bow platform
and a Goalkeeper CIWS aft. Regardless, 052D’s differing CIWS
arrangement is likely reflective of careful analyses by the Chinese
Navy, and the HQ-10 CIWS may provide certain capabilities which a PJ-12
lacks.
052D is also equipped with other standard weapons seen aboard Chinese
Navy surface combatants, such as two triple 324mm torpedo launchers in
aft locations behind enclosed doors, and also four eighteen tube flare,
chaff and rocket launchers atop the helicopter hangar.
But 052D’s most substantial improvement in weapons systems over the
052C class is its new VLS, and 052D is equipped with 64 such VLS cells,
32 cells bow and 32 cells aft. The 052D’s VLS differs from the 052C’s
VLS as it is arranged in rectangular modules with eight canisters each
similar to the 054A’s VLS or the US Navy’s Mk-41 VLS or the European
SYLVER. However, 052D’s VLS is in turn different to those other
rectangular VLS due to the lack of a central exhaust vent. This
interesting design was clarified through a surprisingly detailed “leak”
of a national military standard (Guojia Junyong Biaozhun) document
(5860-2006 standard) describing a new VLS system capable of both cold
launch and hot launch of missiles. Exhaust from hot launched missiles
are not vented through a common vent (like the other aforementioned hot
launch VLS types), but rather through individual canisters, in a
“concentric canister launch” (CCL) method where exhaust is vented
between through a space between an “inner” and “outer” canister wall of
each VLS cell. This is not dissimilar to the Royal Navy’s VLS for its
previous generation Sea Wolf SAM, however 052D’s CCL likely features
square “inner” and “outer” canisters rather than circular for the Sea
Wolf.
GJB 5860-2006 also describes the new VLS as capable of firing
multiple types of weapons, including quad packed weapons, and comes in
three lengths: 9 meters, 7 meters and 3.3 meters, similar to the strike
length, tactical length and self defence length variants of Mk-41.
Therefore, the new Chinese Navy VLS (CN VLS, for the purposes of
discussion) is likely to be the new standardized, universal, and
future-proof VLS armament aboard all future Chinese navy surface
combatants for the early to mid 21st century, and possibly beyond,
similar to the US Navy’s Mk-41 VLS.
Any surface combatant equipped with the 9 meter length CN VLS (as would
be expected aboard a medium to large sized warship like 052D) would thus
theoretically capable of carrying and launching a significant variety
of future Chinese Naval missiles so long as they are adapted for the CN
VLS. In the foreseeable future, 052D’s CN VLS will likely be capable of
firing the long range HHQ-9 SAM and its newer derivatives, the medium
range HHQ-16 SAM and its newer derivatives, and new quad packed medium
range SAMs that may be under development. Other weapons likely to be
integrated aboard 052D includes the elusive new generation YJ-18 AShM, a
new vertically launched ASROC type weapons such as the Yu-8/CY-5, or as
well as a land attack cruise missile such as a navalized KD-10/DF-10
variant, which would provide the Chinese Navy a land attack capability
similar to Tomahawk equipped US destroyers and cruisers.
With 64 VLS canisters, each capable of firing multiple types of
weapons, 052D not only enjoys an increase in equivalent firepower
compared to an 052C (which is equipped with only 48 single role VLS for
HHQ-9 and 8 slant launchers for YJ-62 AShM) by fielding an additional 8
VLS canisters, but also fields substantially more flexibility in
conducting various missions including anti surface missions, anti
submarine missions, land attack missions, as well as medium range air
defence, in addition to standard long range air defence. In future, 052D
may also be expected to carry out ballistic missile defence missions
through upgrades of its Type 346A radar and integration of future
ballistic missile defence weapons.
Main Sensors
The 052D’s APAR is an evolution of the Type 346 of 052C, and is
designated Type 346A. 052D’s flat array cover suggests a pure liquid
cooling arrangement for the radar, compared to a combined liquid and gas
cooling for the Type 346.
Type 346A is also noticeably larger than Type 346 and is square shaped
rather than rectangular. Picture evidence indicates Type 346A is the
same height as Type 346, but is one third wider than Type 346, therefore
simple arithmetic indicates an increase in array surface area size by
33.3%. The consequences of this substantial increase in array size may
have interesting repercussions for the capability of the radar,
especially in terms of peak power.
Type 346A almost certainly operates in the same S band as Type 346,
however it is unknown at this stage if Type 346A may have leveraged
recent international advancements in APAR design, such as replacing
Gallium Arsenide derived transmit/receive modules with more efficient
and higher power Gallium Nitride modules.
The rest of 052D’s sensor suite outwardly appears similar if not
identical to that of 052C, with a Type 364 surface search radar atop its
main mast, a Type 517 derived 2D UHF band radar atop the aft mast,
among other sensors such as a fire control radar for the main gun, ECM
arrays, and ELINT arrays.
052D is also equipped with a bow mounted sonar and appears to feature
the relevant ports on the aft for both a towed array sonar and a towed
torpedo decoy. It also features a the same model of variable depth sonar
as the 056A class corvette and latter 054A class frigates, in a “swing
up” door mechanism.
It is also likely that 052D is equipped with improved datalinks,
communications systems and combat management systems compared to 052C,
however these are substantially more difficult if not impossible to
verify. 052D is also expected to feature an improved CIC compared to
052C, leveraging a new type of console first seen aboard the 056 class
corvettes, however photos of 052D’s CIC have yet to definitively emerge.
The 052D class DDG improves upon the capabilities of the AAW oriented
052C class DDG, and also introduces true multi-role flexibility by
virtue of its new CN VLS which allows mounting of a significant variety
of current and future weapons.
Therefore, in the short term when only small numbers of 052Ds are in
service, 052Ds will likely act primarily in the AAW role similar to the
052Cs and act as the primary air defence ship among a task force or a
carrier strike group, as well as possibly acting as a command ship for
flag officers. 052D will likely mount a variety of AShMs, LACMs, and VL
ASROC type weapons in addition to LR SAMs and MR SAMs, but the two
latter weapon types will likely make up the bulk of its VLS capacity in
the short term, due to the need for a robust air defence capability and a
somewhat limited number of true aegis type DDGs to fulfil the mission.
However, as more 052Ds gradually enter service, such as by 2020 when
twelve 052Ds are likely to be operational, it is likely that 052Ds will
be mounted with a greater variety of weapons during standard operations,
as well as being replaced in the “capital ship” position by new 055
class large DDGs which are expected to enter service around that time
and will likely feature substantially enhanced command and AAW
capabilities as well as more VLS (possibly up to twice as many compared
to a 052D). Thus, the 052D class DDG will provide the Chinese Navy
medium-heavy surface combatant with blue water range and endurance,
available in large numbers, capable of conducting offensive and
defensive operations in the anti surface, anti air, anti submarine and
land attack domains as part of a surface action group, a multirole task
force, or a carrier strike group. If twenty four 052Ds are ultimately
ordered, these capabilities will become even more prevalent, and would
convincingly result in the Chinese Navy having second largest fleet of
aegis type vessels in the world after the US Navy.
Conclusion:
The 052D class is an evolutionary advancement of the 052C class,
however these advancements are not minor, as they have truly propelled
the original humble 052 hull to a world class multi-role aegis type
warship capable of conducting a variety of missions with a variety of
potential payloads.
But as important as the qualitative improvements of 052D class are,
the quantitative production of the 052D is arguably just as important. A
production run of twelve 052Ds expected to enter service by 2020 will,
along with six preceding 052Cs, provide a robust and moderately large
fleet of medium-heavy sized surface combatants capable of comprehensive
AAW for a task force or a CSG.
Twelve 052Ds are also sufficient to
provide the core of one to two surface action groups (envisioning each
SAG as two 052Ds DDGs with two 054A FFGs, supported by a 903/A class
replenishment ship) sufficient to conduct patrol operations in blue
water independent for multiple months and to conduct potential US Navy
style land attack missions via VLS launched LACMs. Two forward deployed
SAGs each assigned with two 052Ds would leave enough 052Ds and 052Cs
available to provide the meat of any surface combatant group in the
western pacific should the demand for naval confrontation arise
(assuming half of the remaining 8 052Ds and 6 052Cs are operational and
not under refit). This of course does not consider the 20 remaining
054As in the western pacific available for the Chinese Navy of which two
thirds may be operational if the demand called for it (assuming no
other blue water deployments), nor does it consider the older non-aegis
type DDGs the Chinese Navy will still have in operation such as the four
Sovremenny class, two 051C class, two 052B class, and two 052 class.