Destroyer
Type 052D destroyer (Luyang III)
The Type 052D (Luyang III) is a guided-missile destroyer made by Jiangnan and Dalian shipyards in China, in service since 2014. It displaces about 7,500 t, carries 64 vertical launch cells and is the main surface combatant of the PLA Navy.
China|Jiangnan Shipyard / Dalian ShipbuildingWhat Is the Type 052D destroyer? Overview, History and Development
The first ship, Kunming (172), was commissioned in March 2014 at Jiangnan in Shanghai, and Dalian also builds the class. Displacement is about 7,500 t at full load, length about 157 m, beam 18 m and crew about 280. The 64-cell vertical launcher fires HHQ-9 or HHQ-9B surface-to-air missiles, YJ-18 anti-ship and land-attack missiles and anti-submarine rockets. Other weapons include a 130 mm gun, a 30 mm Type 1130 CIWS and an HHQ-10 launcher.
The Type 346A active phased-array radar with four fixed faces gives an Aegis-like capability. A CODOG plant gives about 30 knots with a range of about 4,500 nm, and a hangar holds a Z-9 or Z-18 helicopter. Around 25 or more were in service by 2024, and about 30 counting the Type 052DL (numbers vary). Estimated cost is about 350–700 million dollars. The class has served on anti-piracy missions and in exercises with Russia. There are no exports. Rivals include the Arleigh Burke, Type 055 and Sejong the Great.
Type 052D destroyer Specifications: Displacement, Speed, Armament and Crew
Type 052D destroyer Variants and Versions Compared
The standard destroyer with 64 vertical launch cells and a phased-array radar.
A lengthened version with a larger flight deck and improved radar, reported as the 346B (hedged).
The larger 12,000 t destroyer that followed the Type 052D class in PLA Navy service.
Which Countries Use the Type 052D destroyer? Operators and Users
ChinaType 052D destroyer FAQ: Price, Range, Operators and Most Asked Questions
How much does the Type 052D destroyer cost?
The Type 052D destroyer costs an estimated 350 to 700 million US dollars per ship, according to hedged estimates. China does not publish official figures.
How many Type 052D destroyers does China have?
China has about 25 or more Type 052D destroyers by 2024, and about 30 including the lengthened Type 052DL. Numbers vary by source, and the class is the backbone of the PLA Navy surface fleet.
Type 052D vs Arleigh Burke: which is better?
The Type 052D is smaller than the Arleigh Burke, at about 7,500 t against roughly 9,000 t or more, but both carry vertical launch cells, with 64 on the Chinese ship. Performance in real combat is unproven for the Type 052D.
What missiles does the Type 052D carry?
The Type 052D carries HHQ-9 or HHQ-9B surface-to-air missiles, YJ-18 anti-ship and land-attack missiles and anti-submarine rockets in its 64-cell launcher. It also has a HHQ-10 launcher.
Is the Type 052D stealth?
The Type 052D has a shaped hull and superstructure that reduce its radar cross-section, but it is not a stealth ship. The reduction is aimed at lowering detectability rather than evading radar completely.
Has the Type 052D been exported?
The Type 052D has not been exported. Pakistan receives Type 054A/P frigates instead, and reports of interest from Indonesia or Thailand are unconfirmed.