052C/052D Class Destroyers
- Thread starter Jeff Head
- Start date
This is great. That's the export name for the Type 726 EW suite, which consists of 726-1, -2, -3, -4 and -5, consisting of ECM, ESM and DLS. They were introduced for the first time on the 052C but is now widely used in almost every ship, except for the 054/054A that is used the 751-1 and 751-2 ESM and ECM. The last four 054A switched from the 751 ECM to the 726-3 ECM but retained the 751 ESM albeit with modifications.
What is -5 ? The 24-tube tube version of the DLS ? I know -1 and -2 are the modules around the mast, -3 is the additionnal module installed below, at the bridge level, and -4 are the DLS. I've always seen -3 described as a jammer, while -1/2 are ESM. I don't know much about these EW systems, but I know that the previous 826C suite (on 052) was a composition of 928 DESM, 984-1ECM, 984-4 ECM and 946 15-unit DLS.
-> 928 DESM is a copy of the RAPIDS system from Raccal-Thorn
->984-1 ESM/ECM is said to be partially based on RAMSES/Machete dual use ESM/ECM module
->984-4 ECM is described as a jammer
->946 15-unit DLS
Then, when we switch to Type 52C, we also switch to the 726 suite as you said. But what's really interesting is that Type 052 "Qingdao"-113 also switch to this suite, so we can see which antennas, modules etc are the succesors of the previous 826C suite.
-> 928 DESM, which was a the very top of the mast (usual place for DESM systems). is changed to an Adcock antenna. Adcock antennas are being heavely used for Radio Direction Finding, which was the purpose of 928. Yet at the same time it is accompagned by a new smaller radome-antenna at the top. This same radome can be found on 113-modernized, but the latter doesn't have the Adcock antenna. We can assume that the DESM system has been complexified, now being composed of two antennas.
-> 984-1 ESM/ECM has been replaced by 726-1/2. 984-1 was a single module, but composed of two antennas (lower one is the transmitting antenna and upper one is the receiving antenna; on the RAMSES/machete system, the upper antenna is used to track the radar signal, and the lower antenna is used to transmit interference signals). That been said, 236-1/2 are two different modules, so we can hypothetise that they've simplified the configuration, with one module is the transmitting antenna and the other, the receiving one. I would say that the lower one is the transmitting antenna, as it's composed of 4 small arrays, probably meant for multi-beam. The upper module is composed of only two arrays (one circular and one semi-circular), which could mean a large angular coverage (?).
->984-4 ECM is probably 726-3. They're positionned at the same level, and both are described as jammers. What's interesting is that -3 is very similar to the lower 726 -1/2 ( that I assumed is a jammer too and will call 726-2 for now ). 726-2 is composed of 4 arrays in two pairs; 2 are thin and the lower other 2 are larger. On the 726-3 we can find the same 2 thin antennas, this time not accompagned by the 2 large ones. Maybe it's meant as additionnal jamming potential for a particular frequency.
->946 15-unit DLS... Well they're changed by the 726-4/5.
The 826C suite on Type 052 "Qingdao"-113 not modernized.
The 726 suite on 113 now modernized
the 726 suite on an type 052C . Check the adcock antenna at the top of the mast. You have two antennas for to intercept more frequencies
It becomes more intersting with 052D which has a new kind of antenna on its mast
So that's my view on the 726 suite.
726-5 is the ESM you find in the 056 and 071. There are two versions of it, the second version started appearing in the last batch of 056A.
The decoy system on the 056 series is the 728-3. Look higher up from the DLS you see the 726-5 ESM newer version.
Sales brochure of it, export name is SRW-210A.
The older version you see on the rest of the older 056 and 056A. I don't have close up on the Type 071 to see if there is any transition to the new version.
Physically, the difference between the older and the newer version is that there is something added on top and it can be a small jammer.
At this point, the 726 suite replaces the 928/984 suite as the PLAN standard. The last ships still using the older suites, after the retirement of the two last Ludas, are the two 051C and the two 052B.
The 051B and the 136/137 Sov refits also make full use of the 726 suite. The 053H3 refit also uses the suite. The 726 suite also equips the Liaoning and the Shandong. They also equip the 075 but there are changes on the 726-1 and 726-2 which indicates new versions.
Pretty much you got everything.
Previously I assumed that 726-2 was an ECM unit but I see it referred to as an ESM. The four arrays are said to be for directional finding. Furthermore on the new version on the Type 075, there is a fifth array right in the middle of the two pairs. These units got heavily sooted on the 075's first trials.
The lower unit is the 726-1. Compared to how we see it on the 052C/D, this time this version is heavily modded with new arrays on top.
What's interesting is the four arrays next to the 726-1 ESM. Originally I thought the four panels might be related to the 726-1 or is used with EW, but I suspect otherwise. The four arrays to my opinion is the 075's CEC.
CEC as it appears on the Arleigh Burke with AEGIS Baseline 9 using AN/USG-3.
Yup you got everything.
On the new antenna on the 052D.
I suspect the one on the bottom with eight dipoles that are weather protected, I suspect they are datalinks but for what? I suspect two, one is for the ZKJ-5 command information system, and other is that it is used for the YJ-18. This antenna is also present on the 051B refit and the 136/137 Sov refits. If this is a missile datalink, it is used for the YJ-18 and the YJ-12.
You can see everything right here in this picture, except for the 726-4 DLS which is obscured by the base of the crane. In the original Sov, there are six pairs of Front Dome illuminators, but after the refit, two of the Front Domes are replaced by 726-3 ECM on the same place.
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This is very much possible. After all this is the US SLQ-32(V)2 EW system. This variant only provides ES for one RF band; warning, identification, and DF of incoming ASM homing radars. The later variant would provide limited jamming capability, but that's something else.
I'm saying this because 726-2 and SLQ-32(V)2 are extremely similar in shapes, so it's very possible that my assumption about the multi-arrays=multi jamming beam is false. comparison with 726-2.
But is 726-1 really the lower one on Type 075 ? Maybe it's just a new kind of system ?
I don't think 762-2 is ECM at all and the 726 suite differs from the SLQ-32 by being modular and distributed while the SLQ-32 puts both ESM and ECM into a single monolithic unit. Unlike ESM, ECM should be positioned lower on the ship and on the side where you expect the ASM has the greatest likelihood of striking which is low on the side of the ship. The table you posted on the other thread also says 726-2 is ESM.
In the Liaoning, the 726-3 ECM has to be positioned on the lowest shelf of the four shelves set along the side of the island. This is the legacy from the Soviet design. But on the Shandong, the 726-3 ECM was moved further downward out of the island and down at the hull. Note that only the 726-3 has been positioned that way, while the 726-1 and 726-2 remained on the island.
Then you have the Type 075. The 726-3, like on the Shandong, is moved down to the hull where it can be closest to the ASM striking point at the hull. But 726-1 and 726-2 is kept high on the island. Why you want the ESM placed on the higher point of the ship is because you want to give it the extended radar horizon for the advanced warning time and time to analyze the threat signal from the ASM's seeker.
It can be a new system. For me it resembles the 726-1 like having its half cylinder design and the elements along it that it can be a variation. Here is a pair of 726-1 close up right on top of the 055. Again, note how high the units are placed.
Don't mind the C and L radar labeling on those panels. Go back to where I was saying about the four small panels on the 075 and these might be CEC.
Also I think the cylinders near the Type 366 radar dome is some form of ESM. These units however are not part of the 726 suite.
On newer 052D, the cylinders are changed to design with a rounded top but I believe the functions are the same.
These units remind of the DWL002 passive detection system and VERA NG.
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