052C/052D Class Destroyers
- Thread starter Jeff Head
- Start date
antiterror13
Brigadier
I don't think so, why would the PLAN want to do that?
lcloo
Captain
No. This is too simplicitic in thinking.
Acquisition of DDGs is more than trying to match your opponent's ship numbers. Arleigh Burkes can be dealt with by other means like land based anti-ship missiles, air launch missiles etc. also, very unlikely US navy will deploy all its AB DDGs to seas facing China. USN will need them elsewhere like East Pacific, both side of Atlantics, Indian Ocean and the Mediterranean.
More important is how many DDGs are required to escort aircraft carriers, landing ships, convoy escorts, ship based air defense for coastal cities like Tianjin, Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen etc, and anti-submarine warfare against the large combined number of submarines from AUKUS, Japan and South Korea, and against possible NATO's adventure into China's backyard.
However, it is correct to say that PLAN's build up is against very real threat from US and its allies. It will be 5 dimensional war involving more than just ships vs ships.
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It depends whether you think Pacific War 2.0 is a Low probability or High probability event.
How many destroyers does the PLA-navy need within the next 10 years?
a) 30 destroyers
b) 90 destroyers
Even if a high intensity war is perceived as a high probability event, that doesn't mean that it makes sense to think about PLAN destroyer procurement or 052D procurement in relation to Burke fleet size or Burke VLS total counts.
The question should be "how many 052Ds does the PLAN need in context of their military strategy" not "does the PLAN need enough 052Ds to match US Burke fleet size/VLS count"
I saw Chinese wiki, including some (unreliable) articles from Chinese Internet that the 5th batch of 052D started construction. Do we have any proof?
There's a 5th batch...? They probably mean the 4th?
As of present, one out of the three new 052DGs (labelled 052D #38) is visually confirmed to be under construction at Dalian's Dagushan, with another possible 052DG in the same drydock (presently (and likely erroneously) labelled 055 #14):
As for whether the three new 052DGs (36th 37th and 38th) belong to the 4th batch or lead ships of a new 5th batch, there is still no viable answer as of present.
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Thank you. If you feel a 052D is wrongfully labeled as 055 No.14, does this mean there is already a 055 No.13?