052C/052D Class Destroyers

Tetrach said:

Quick question. Do we know the cost of the type 346 radar on the type 52D ? I heard it represented 1/4 of the price of the entire vessel, but I've never seen the price of the actual radar

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Depends. Let's assume we take the costs here of an AESA module here.


This is civilian or commercial grade modules. Military grade is expected to be higher.

Let's assume each face is about 5,000 to 6,000 elements. Let's take the low ball figure of 5,000 elements per face.

If each element is $5,000 for 25,000 elements for all four faces, that would $125,000 for a low ball estimate for the arrays alone, not counting the back end, installation costs and so on.

Tam said:

Depends. Let's assume we take the costs here of an AESA module here.

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This is civilian or commercial grade modules. Military grade is expected to be higher.

Let's assume each face is about 5,000 to 6,000 elements. Let's take the low ball figure of 5,000 elements per face.

If each element is $5,000 for 25,000 elements for all four faces, that would $125,000 for a low ball estimate for the arrays alone, not counting the back end, installation costs and so on.

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You are really underestimating the chinese economies of scale..
$125M gets you a An/spy1D. (without back end and integration costs)

Bhurki said:

You are really underestimating the chinese economies of scale..
$125M gets you a An/spy1D. (without back end and integration costs)

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In 2020 dollars? Doubt that. Besides, I'm basing this off from a Chinese quoted price for a TR module, even though its civilian grade, possibly for a radar of civilian or commercial use. Please check the link.

If 1/4th of the ship is radar alone, then $125 million means a $500 million ship. I always assume a 052D is somewhere between $500 to $1 billion, and so I think about $200 million for the radar alone is likely.

a very nice comparison of 052D and 052C from top view

go4sdff said:

a very nice comparison of 052D and 052C from top view

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This is a picture that's fairly taken late. Not only does it compare a 052C with a 052D, the 052C has a minor modernization refit.

At this point, the 052C is now sports the newer ESM that are R2D2 shaped, compared to the automobile oil filter shaped ESM still featured on the 052D. Both second batch 052D and 052DL features the newer R2D2 shaped ESM units. The 052C also features the new circular communication array on top of the bridge starboard side, and these were back fitted to all 052C and some 052D, although some other 052D still haven't gotten it because its still an ongoing process.

Murky color of the seas say this is the East China Sea, only destroyer flotilla there that has both 052C and 052D is the Sixth. I don't see any calibration booms on the phase array of the 052D, but the CIWS is a 730. I think this particular 052D is pennant 155, while the 052C is any of of its fleet mates 150 to 153.

go4sdff said:

a very nice comparison of 052D and 052C from top view

View attachment 61262

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That's a very old screen capture... Henrik posted that on his website a long time ago in addition to mine here.

go4sdff said:

is this a PS'ed cover girl? DDG 131 TaiYuan was commissioned on 11/29/2018, how could it be on the cover of magazine published on June 2000?

Anyway, this is a nice shot, beautiful light and shadow.

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Here comes the real magazine cover of latest Modern Ships. Picture is downloaded from cjdby.net

go4sdff said:

Here comes the real magazine cover of latest Modern Ships. Picture is downloaded from cjdby.net

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View attachment 61287

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You do realize that the image from my earlier post was the original from the photographer himself, right? He used it to cheekily announce its imminent appearance on a magazine cover.

I think you've sadly missed the point of my post, which was to share the nice digital image (instead of a low-quality photograph of taken of an actual magazine cover).

Notes on Destroyer 131 Taiyuan, which is the ship above.

Currently deployed in the escort task force in the Gulf of Aden.

Assigned to the Third Destroyer Division of the ESF. This destroyer division is best known for its Sovremennys --- 136, 137, 138 and 139. Its the only modern destroyer of that group, and should be acting as the flagship. The group currently lacks ships and in need of modernization, two of the Sovremennys in refit (136 and 137), leaving only 131, 138 and 139 active, although I would expect 138 and 139 would also go into refit. Modernization of the Third Destroyer Division would see pennants 132 to 135 being filled, with 132, 133, and 134 would be 052DLs.

Went to Yokosuka last year for JSMDF anniversary celebration. The celebration was ultimately canceled due to a typhoon, but Japanese managed to catch many pictures of the ship and posted it into social media. As I don't recall any 052D ever visiting Japan, this was a most unique occasion for Japanese photographers especially being a bit more advance than the other 052D destroyers during the time of her visit.

131 belongs to the second batch, with improved Type 346A, Type 1130 CIWS and new ESM.

Two new magazine scans.