On August 2, the U.S. military publication "Military Observer" article, China's Navy received two new Type 052DM destroyers: How strong are they?

The Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy has recently received two newly built Type 052DM destroyers, which have been deployed to the Northern Theater Naval Command. These two warships are named "Heze Ship" (hull number 126) and "Zhumadian Ship" (hull number 127), which were launched on March 10, 2023, and August 28, respectively, and then completed their sea trials.

The Type 052D destroyer is the core mainstay of the Chinese Navy's surface fleet, with a construction quantity far exceeding any similar ship in the world. Since the commissioning of the first ship in 2014, more than 30 Type 052D series ships have been completed and commissioned, forming a scale combat capability.

Type 052DM: A New Version with Progressive Upgrades

The Type 052D is the first modern destroyer platform in China that achieved mass production, realizing a fundamental breakthrough in the combat system compared to earlier destroyers. The most representative innovation is the adoption of a modular universal vertical launch system (VLS), similar to the Aegis ships of the US, Japan, and South Korea, and superior to the "rotary" launch devices used by most European warships. This system is compatible with various types of missiles, offering greater versatility and larger loading capacity.

The Type 052D platform has undergone several rounds of progressive modernization. The latest Type 052DM version further enhances its capabilities, mainly including the installation of a dual-faced array "Sea Star" 368 X-band active phased array radar, improving the detection capability for stealth targets, and extending the flight deck at the stern to accommodate the Z-20F carrier helicopter.

Parallel Development of Other Improved Models

The Type 052DL is currently also being continuously built, with a redesigned main mast structure to accommodate new electronic warfare and communication equipment. In addition, there is also the Type 052DG small modification model being built.

At the same time, China is also mass-producing the larger Type 055 destroyers. Compared to the 7,500-ton Type 052D and 8,000-ton Type 052DM, the Type 055 has a full-load displacement of nearly 12,000 to 13,000 tons, about 50% more. The Type 055 is equipped with 112 VLS cells, almost twice as many as the Type 052D, and integrates more advanced sensors including dual-band radar, and is widely regarded as the most powerful surface warship in the world today. However, due to high cost and complexity, only 8 have been commissioned so far, with another 8 under construction or planned.

Powerful Weapon System

The Type 052D series destroyers integrate a rich weapon system, including the YJ-100 cruise missile with a range of 1,000 kilometers, the YJ-18 anti-ship missile with a terminal speed of 3 Maches and a complex low-altitude trajectory, and a multi-layer air defense system, including the HQ-16, HHQ-9, HHQ-10, and the DK-10A missile-modified medium-range and short-range air defense missiles, as well as multiple types of close-in weapon systems.

It is reported that this series of destroyers also integrates the next-generation YJ-21 hypersonic anti-ship ballistic missile, which is widely considered to be the most threatening ship-launched anti-ship weapon in the world. The entire ship is equipped with 6 radars and 2 sonar systems, providing extremely strong situational awareness capabilities, capable of simultaneously detecting surface, underwater, and beyond-visual-range targets.

The Type 052D series destroyers are generally considered to be one of the most advanced multi-purpose combat ships in the world today. However, it is still unclear how long the progressive modifications of this series will continue, and whether a new generation of destroyer platforms will be developed in the next 10 years, which remains to be observed.

Remember what POP3 said about the Type 052DL. Of course, the various models assigned by foreigners to the Type 052 are their understanding, whether right or not, we don't need to correct them.

Original text: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1839330748702727/

Statement: This article represents the views of the author himself.