I think they should at least have 80 VLS
052C/052D Class Destroyers
- Thread starter Jeff Head
- Start date
antiterror13
Brigadier
055 is more expensive than 052D but not 2x more expensive
Type 055:
The cost for a single Type 055 is estimated to be around 6 billion CNY, which is equivalent to about $888 million USD. This cost includes research and development.
Type 052D:
A Type 052D typically costs around 3.5 billion CNY, which is about $505 million USD.
I don't know which one is more effective and powerful whether 1x 055 or 2x 052D ... my guess is 1x 055 is more powerful than 2x 052D
Also this is important that the crew size of 055 is similar to 052D, probably more but nowhere near 2x
So I agree that 055 is "kind of" the successor of 052D ... probably there is no enough incentive for PLAN to design DDG in between 052D and 055
lcloo
Captain
mathematics on cost of having more VLS and missile loads.
A large naval missile can cost any where from US$500,000 to US$4 million each. For simple calculation we take $1 million each as the average. Let's say if 16 more large VLS/UVLS cells are added, that would be $16 million per ship which is not much if your navy has only 3 or 4 ships with such missile loads.
However, if you plan to have 30 ships of the new class with additional 16 VLS cells more then the previous class, that is $480 million cost on miisiles. Then you would also need to have spare missiles to refill the VLS after the first one is launched. So your cost now stands at $960 million fleetwise, for 1 in VLS + 1 spare missile.
US$960 million is cost for having option of one spare missile for each VLS cells. If you are expecting a great war between two super powers, you might want at least 2 spare missiles for each one already in the VLS.
So now you have to allocate $480 million + $960 million = $1,440 million or $1.44 Billion just for the cost of missiles alone, assuming the average missile cost is $1 million each.
What if your average cost each is not $1 million but 2 or 3 million? The more advance the missile, the more likely you have to spend more.
Having more ships with smaller number of missiles on each ship may work better compare with having smaller number of ships with larger number of VLS, epecially when you have to expect a certain number of your ships getting sunk or damaged beyond fighting condition.
A large naval missile can cost any where from US$500,000 to US$4 million each. For simple calculation we take $1 million each as the average. Let's say if 16 more large VLS/UVLS cells are added, that would be $16 million per ship which is not much if your navy has only 3 or 4 ships with such missile loads.
However, if you plan to have 30 ships of the new class with additional 16 VLS cells more then the previous class, that is $480 million cost on miisiles. Then you would also need to have spare missiles to refill the VLS after the first one is launched. So your cost now stands at $960 million fleetwise, for 1 in VLS + 1 spare missile.
US$960 million is cost for having option of one spare missile for each VLS cells. If you are expecting a great war between two super powers, you might want at least 2 spare missiles for each one already in the VLS.
So now you have to allocate $480 million + $960 million = $1,440 million or $1.44 Billion just for the cost of missiles alone, assuming the average missile cost is $1 million each.
What if your average cost each is not $1 million but 2 or 3 million? The more advance the missile, the more likely you have to spend more.
Having more ships with smaller number of missiles on each ship may work better compare with having smaller number of ships with larger number of VLS, epecially when you have to expect a certain number of your ships getting sunk or damaged beyond fighting condition.
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Are you using ChatGPT or some shit for this or something? This whole post is unspecific enough so that its basically useless. How did you calculate the missile costs? Which missiles are you using? Why is there such a conservative estimate for missile stockpiles? In the first place it makes no sense to just multiply the cost of the missile by the number of cells to try and calculate the extra cost of a whole new set of VLS cells, or the completely new ship design required to fit them.
Look at the current structure
Low: Type-054/A/B Frigate
32 Cells
Medium: Type-052D Destroyer
64 Cells
High: Type-055 *Cruiser*
112 Cells
We can use VLS count as a rough proxy for capability
You can see VLS count doubling with each tier, and the cost roughly doubles as well.
With only a Low and High, there is a large gap in the middle.
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And remember capabilities for each tier.
Frigates are low-cost, so are ideally used for dangerous ASW and provide medium-range air defence in lower-threat environments.
Cruisers are high-cost, and protect carriers or are the offensive components of a SAG for example
So there is a place in the fleet structure for a medium-sized Destroyer for long-range air defence
