In the 1980s, PLAN contracted Briton, France, and Italy to modernize its fleet. Major items acquired include Thomson-CFS radar, sonar, CILAS safecopter landing aid system, ship-based helicopters, combat management system (French TAVITAC and Italian IPN-10), Italian Eilas-3/B515S torpedo launcher, A244S ASW torpedos, etc.
The PLA/PLAN also planned to obtain 3 SAM systems with potential naval use, the French Thomson-CFS Crotale & R-440 Sea Crotale, Italian Aspide, and the British Sea Dart. The PLAN had wanted to equip a pair of 051 Luda DDG's with imported British systems like the Sea Dart. But due to cost and other considerations, the plan never materialized:
In January 1983, for instance, China signed an agreement with Britain for retrofitting of Sea Dart surface-to-air missiles on the Chinese destroyers. However, as the cost of the deal [£100 million] was considered to be too high, this was not pursued. Deals with the Italians, French, Ukrainians and Russians, however, have been successful in this regard.
The exchange rate in 1983 was approx. £1 : 1.50 USD:
So the estimated cost would've been $150 million USD. We're not sure if this cost estimate is for 2 Luda DDG's only, or more. But if it was for 2 ships, then the high cost of $75 million per ship would indeed have been too high for PLAN to accept.
To be fair, the suite would've included more than just the SAMs. It'd prolly have included the Type 965 AKE-2 air search radar, Type 992Q/993 low level air search radar, Type 909 tracking radar, Twin-arm trainable launcher, below-deck magazine, and a large supply of Sea Dart munitions.
On the British Type 82 DDG, they installed 1 x GWS30 system with 40 rounds (550kg each), and 1 x Ikara ASW system with 32 rounds. But the Type 82 DDG was a 7,700 ton displacement ship. The Luda is 3,670 ton displacement.
Assuming if the cost was acceptable to PLAN, would it have been realistic to mount the Sea Dart SAM system on the 051? If so, would there have been sufficient below-deck (or under elevated platform?) space to store 40 rounds? 20 rounds?
IMO if we look at the later refitted 051 Ludas with 16 x YJ-83, those missiles prolly weight 1+ ton each including the shipping container, which adds to 16+ tons of weight. From a simplistic point of view, if we were to remove all the SSM's some some existing weapons, it is possible to build an "air defense" 051 Luda with 1 x GWS 30 system + 20 rounds, 1 x main gun, 4 x AA, plus some minor weapon systems (MLRS) and necessary radar suites for the SAM system.
If they had imported the Ikara ASROC system, it'd have been possible to build an ASW 051 Luda with 1 x Ikara ASROC + 16-32 rounds, 1 x main gun, 4 x AA, 2x3 torpedos, ASW MLRS, aft helicopter deck/hanger, and ASW helicopter.
Both the AD and ASW variants would have weak anti-surface capability (lacking SSM's), but would've greatly improved the air defense and ASW capability. The Sea Cat SAM has longer range, combined with other ships equipped with the Sea Crotale, it'd have provided fleet multi-layer air defense by late 80's to early 90's. But unfortunately the cost was just too high.
The PLA/PLAN also planned to obtain 3 SAM systems with potential naval use, the French Thomson-CFS Crotale & R-440 Sea Crotale, Italian Aspide, and the British Sea Dart. The PLAN had wanted to equip a pair of 051 Luda DDG's with imported British systems like the Sea Dart. But due to cost and other considerations, the plan never materialized:
In January 1983, for instance, China signed an agreement with Britain for retrofitting of Sea Dart surface-to-air missiles on the Chinese destroyers. However, as the cost of the deal [£100 million] was considered to be too high, this was not pursued. Deals with the Italians, French, Ukrainians and Russians, however, have been successful in this regard.
The exchange rate in 1983 was approx. £1 : 1.50 USD:
So the estimated cost would've been $150 million USD. We're not sure if this cost estimate is for 2 Luda DDG's only, or more. But if it was for 2 ships, then the high cost of $75 million per ship would indeed have been too high for PLAN to accept.
To be fair, the suite would've included more than just the SAMs. It'd prolly have included the Type 965 AKE-2 air search radar, Type 992Q/993 low level air search radar, Type 909 tracking radar, Twin-arm trainable launcher, below-deck magazine, and a large supply of Sea Dart munitions.
On the British Type 82 DDG, they installed 1 x GWS30 system with 40 rounds (550kg each), and 1 x Ikara ASW system with 32 rounds. But the Type 82 DDG was a 7,700 ton displacement ship. The Luda is 3,670 ton displacement.
Assuming if the cost was acceptable to PLAN, would it have been realistic to mount the Sea Dart SAM system on the 051? If so, would there have been sufficient below-deck (or under elevated platform?) space to store 40 rounds? 20 rounds?
IMO if we look at the later refitted 051 Ludas with 16 x YJ-83, those missiles prolly weight 1+ ton each including the shipping container, which adds to 16+ tons of weight. From a simplistic point of view, if we were to remove all the SSM's some some existing weapons, it is possible to build an "air defense" 051 Luda with 1 x GWS 30 system + 20 rounds, 1 x main gun, 4 x AA, plus some minor weapon systems (MLRS) and necessary radar suites for the SAM system.
If they had imported the Ikara ASROC system, it'd have been possible to build an ASW 051 Luda with 1 x Ikara ASROC + 16-32 rounds, 1 x main gun, 4 x AA, 2x3 torpedos, ASW MLRS, aft helicopter deck/hanger, and ASW helicopter.
Both the AD and ASW variants would have weak anti-surface capability (lacking SSM's), but would've greatly improved the air defense and ASW capability. The Sea Cat SAM has longer range, combined with other ships equipped with the Sea Crotale, it'd have provided fleet multi-layer air defense by late 80's to early 90's. But unfortunately the cost was just too high.
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