052C/052D Class Destroyers

A

ACuriousPLAFan

Brigadier
Registered Member
para80 said:
Note a new line of blocks in drydock. May mean they lay down another hull. Though doing so behind the ship most advanced in construction is perhaps indicating that is not exactly the idea.
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Another possible way to see it - If that case is true, could it be that Dalian is laying down 1 or 2 new 052D hull(s) in the forward half of the drydock, and then launch the 1/2 new hull(s) alongside the 3 present hulls in the rear half of the drydock in one go, later on?

Perhaps this MIGHT explain the rather slow-ish construction speed of the 3 052D hulls in the rear half of the drydock.

Though, that's just my own speculation on the matter.

~~~~~~

In the meantime, I'm really hoping that the PLAN will terminate the 052D's production run as soon as the last of the 4th batch 052D left their slipway/drydock in Jiangnan/Dalian...
 
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A

Andy1974

Senior Member
Registered Member
ACuriousPLAFan said:
Another possible way to see it - If that case is true, could it be that Dalian is laying down 1 or 2 new 052D hull(s) in the forward half of the drydock, and then launch the 1/2 new hull(s) alongside the 3 present hulls in the rear half of the drydock in one go, later on?

Perhaps this MIGHT explain the rather slow-ish construction speed of the 3 052D hulls in the rear half of the drydock.

Though, that's just my own speculation on the matter.

~~~~~~

In the meantime, I'm really hoping that the PLAN will terminate the 052D's production run as soon as the last of the 4th batch 052D left their slipway/drydock in Jiangnan/Dalian...
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Why? I hoped production was going into overdrive.
 
A

ACuriousPLAFan

Brigadier
Registered Member
Andy1974 said:
Why? I hoped production was going into overdrive.
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While the 052D/DL can be considered very capable for a general-purpose destroyer - All the radars and sensors, weapon systems, computing systems and equipment onboard the 052D/DL have pretty much stretched its hull to the maximum by this point. That means the viability and potential of receiving significant upgrades into the future for the 052D/DL is rather limited.

Therefore, a brand new hull for the next-generation general-purpose destroyer to complement and then succeed the 052D/DL is definitely needed by the PLAN in the coming years.

A sufficiently-bigger hull with a large enough reserve space and displacement allocation for significant, across-the-board upgrades in multiple domains (radars & sensors, offensive and defensive weaponry, command & networking systems, propulsion & powerplant, endurance & crew comfort, etc) in the coming decades is a must.

Of course, the successor class should also be built quickly and in large numbers, just like the present 052D/DL.

antiterror13 said:
I think the focus will be to 054B and 055A in the next few years .. 052D is very much done or almost

How about 052E ?
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Unable to comment for now.
 
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H

HighGround

Senior Member
Registered Member
ACuriousPLAFan said:
While the 052D/DL can be considered very capable for a general-purpose destroyer - All the radars and sensors, weapon systems, computing systems and equipment onboard the 052D/DL have pretty much stretched its hull to the maximum by this point. That means the viability and potential of receiving significant upgrades into the future for the 052D/DL is rather limited.
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I'm curious, how did you reach this conclusion?
 
A

Andy1974

Senior Member
Registered Member
ACuriousPLAFan said:
While the 052D/DL can be considered very capable for a general-purpose destroyer - All the radars and sensors, weapon systems, computing systems and equipment onboard the 052D/DL have pretty much stretched its hull to the maximum by this point. That means the viability and potential of receiving significant upgrades into the future for the 052D/DL is rather limited.

Therefore, a brand new hull for the next-generation general-purpose destroyer to complement and then succeed the 052D/DL is definitely needed by the PLAN in the coming years.

A sufficiently-bigger hull with a large enough reserve space and displacement allocation for significant, across-the-board upgrades in multiple domains (radars & sensors, offensive and defensive weaponry, command & networking systems, propulsion & powerplant, endurance & crew comfort, etc) in the coming decades is a must.

Of course, the successor class should also be built quickly and in large numbers, just like the present 052D/DL.


Unable to comment for now.
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The DL versions had a big power upgrade and should have plenty of power for future goodies, I think it has 20MW for this.

Rather than saying there is no room for upgrades, I’d rather say it is perfectly sized and equipped for it’s role as a mass produced destroyer. It is optimal for what you get.

It has just proven itself unequivocally with multiple extreme voyages, it is very reliable, powerful, future ready, and they could construct 6 of them in a single dry dock in about a year. They must now be the most cost and combat effect ships for their size.

At this moment in time, it would be crazy to say, “OK, let’s stop now and wait for the electric version.”

China needs lots of destroyers and frigates to form its global backbone, IMO China needs to have another 052 moment, with these latest 052’s, they should make 10 a year until 2030.
 
T

Tam

Brigadier
Registered Member
ACuriousPLAFan said:
Another possible way to see it - If that case is true, could it be that Dalian is laying down 1 or 2 new 052D hull(s) in the forward half of the drydock, and then launch the 1/2 new hull(s) alongside the 3 present hulls in the rear half of the drydock in one go, later on?

Perhaps this MIGHT explain the rather slow-ish construction speed of the 3 052D hulls in the rear half of the drydock.

Though, that's just my own speculation on the matter.

~~~~~~

In the meantime, I'm really hoping that the PLAN will terminate the 052D's production run as soon as the last of the 4th batch 052D left their slipway/drydock in Jiangnan/Dalian...
Click to expand...


I think there is still potential for refinements in the 052D hull.

We see the latest batch now adding the Type 368 AESA air to surface scanning radar. These radars are meant to scan and track low flying targets like antiship missiles in high angular resolution.

I think we can remote more legacy radars off the hull such as the Type 347G on the CIWS, the Type 344 for the gun and the Type 366 for the OTH and LOS antiship targeting. The first can be replaced by the CIWS radar we first saw on the Fujian, the latter two by a mechanical swivable X-Band single panel AESA based on the four sided one used on the 055. However with only one panel, we cut the cost to 1/4th. We need to mount four CEC panels in the mast and finally the 052D is fully maxed out.
 
A

antiterror13

Brigadier
Andy1974 said:
The DL versions had a big power upgrade and should have plenty of power for future goodies, I think it has 20MW for this.

Rather than saying there is no room for upgrades, I’d rather say it is perfectly sized and equipped for it’s role as a mass produced destroyer. It is optimal for what you get.

It has just proven itself unequivocally with multiple extreme voyages, it is very reliable, powerful, future ready, and they could construct 6 of them in a single dry dock in about a year. They must now be the most cost and combat effect ships for their size.

At this moment in time, it would be crazy to say, “OK, let’s stop now and wait for the electric version.”

China needs lots of destroyers and frigates to form its global backbone, IMO China needs to have another 052 moment, with these latest 052’s, they should make 10 a year until 2030.
Click to expand...

Interesting, what power upgrade for DL version ? .. what do you mean "20MW' ?
 
A

Andy1974

Senior Member
Registered Member
antiterror13 said:
Interesting, what power upgrade for DL version ? .. what do you mean "20MW' ?
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Yes, I read on one of the Chinese websites that one of the changes between the D and DL was a large power plant upgrade. As part of that it said 20MW could be allocated to future electric weapons, etc.

I am sure someone here can find it on the Chinese web.
 
A

antiterror13

Brigadier
Andy1974 said:
Yes, I read on one of the Chinese websites that one of the changes between the D and DL was a large power plant upgrade. As part of that it said 20MW could be allocated to future electric weapons, etc.

I am sure someone here can find it on the Chinese web.
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Do you mean additional 20MW power from normal 052D ?
 
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