055 DDG Large Destroyer Thread

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Blitzo

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Maybe it's just the cover they're using for whatever Type 346 variant radar they're using (possibly for a cheaper cooling system)?

Doubtful, the geometry of that radar looks identical to the standard 346.
I also think going out of their way to create a new cooling system only for a test radar seems a bit excessive.

I'd speculate that there are probably multiple tests of 055's various sensors and EM interactions all happening around the country, and some tests may require use of an actual 346A, while some tests may be fulfilled by using a representative stand in like 346, which should operate on the same band anyway.

I would be interested to know what the Wuhan 055 mock up has been fitted with, if it has been fitted with one yet at all. If it is fitted with a 346 as well then that would suggest for some reason they've decided to go with 346 for 055 EM testing (and thus possibly suggestive that 055 will use 346s) -- but if it's fitted with a 346A as expected, then I think that would support my idea that the seaside mock up with the 346 is merely using 346 as a tool of convenience to test certain aspects of it, and that 055 won't be using 346 on the real thing.
 

Insignius

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The Wuhan mockup still isnt fitted with any radar, and possibly wont be (as it would be kinda bad due to it near a population center and merely having a lake as test-range).

What we see here, is possibly the real radar-testing mockup for the 055, while the Wuhan one is, like the Liaoning carrier mockup, merely one for testing the crew handling.
 

Blitzo

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The Wuhan mockup still isnt fitted with any radar, and possibly wont be (as it would be kinda bad due to it near a population center and merely having a lake as test-range).

What we see here, is possibly the real radar-testing mockup for the 055, while the Wuhan one is, like the Liaoning carrier mockup, merely one for testing the crew handling.

I have one or two counterpoints: first, the Liaoning mockup was definitely fitted with radar, for a time -- in fact it had both the representative sea eagle and a few 346 arrays on it as well. We also never had any evidence to suggest the Liaoning mock up was used for testing crew handling. For one, we never saw more than one or two plane mock ups on the "flight deck itself," let alone deck crew. So I think the 055 mock up at Wuhan may yet have radars installed.

Still, it is possible that for some reason they've decided to not conduct extensive EM testing of 055's sensors at Wuhan for whatever reason. I'd be interested in waiting for more recent pictures to see if they've finally fitted anything on.

The more pressing question, is if the seaside 055 sensor test platform is meant to be representative of the real thing, then why did they equip a 346 rather than a 346A?

346A is obviously in mass production and operating well see as it is aboard all 052Ds without any issues that we know of, and the 346 is an older generation of radar. Not to mention all the rumours we've had over the last few years is suggestive that 346A will be on 055, and even the mockup's radar openings are square like 346A rather than rectangular like 346.
The most sensible reason I can come up with, given the above prerequisites, is that for whatever component of the EM test they are conducting at the seaside site, using a 346 instead of a 346A is considered acceptable. Why use a 346 instead of a 346A? Possibly because there are quite a few existing land based 346 arrays that can be taken either from original 052C test rigs or the Liaoning mockup, and producing a new 346A may be needlessly expensive and not an optimal use of production space when 346As are needed for use on real 052Ds being produced.


Still, I suppose we don't know enough to make a firm call either way -- we will probably know when we see 055 launched. If it has 346A style flat and square covers over its radar openings, or 346 style and round/rectangular covers, will be as good as confirmation of the kind of radar it will have.
 

SpicySichuan

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As I mentioned earlier in the post last year, if the 055s only have 96 VLSs, the "CG" is REALLY under-armed. I hope those of you arguing that the ship has 128 VLS are correct.
 

Blitzo

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As I mentioned earlier in the post last year, if the 055s only have 96 VLSs, the "CG" is REALLY under-armed. I hope those of you arguing that the ship has 128 VLS are correct.

The current estimate consensus is 112 to 128 VLS -- it has always been 112 to 128.
No one is arguing about the VLS count -- one cannot simply make up a number, but rather the discussions are derived from rumours.

And to be honest, a 96 VLS count for a 12,000+ ton ship wouldn't be that bad, considering all that additional space would be put to good use for other purposes.

----

Also, very few people are calling this a "CG" -- it's being called a large DDG rather than a CG for a reason.
 
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rhino123

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As I mentioned earlier in the post last year, if the 055s only have 96 VLSs, the "CG" is REALLY under-armed. I hope those of you arguing that the ship has 128 VLS are correct.

I am sorry. The most advance destroyer around (US DDG-1000) didn't carry 117-128 VLS and she is bigger and heavier than China Type 055. And I would not call the US destroyer as underarmed. Japan Atago Class destroyer only has 96 cells VLS and I wouldn't call that ship underarm too.

You don't just say a ship with 96 VLS as REALLY under-armed, you need to look at the ship on the whole. It's radar, its delivery system, its weapon suite (which don't just include VLS only), etc etc. SO FAR we know very few details of what we Type 055 is capable of... as very few information is leaked out, except for some test facilities, sketchy low resolution photos, fanarts, etc. What I dare say is that Type 055 will be China's most ambitious naval project (next to her aircraft carrier) and it is gonna be the most capable surface combatant in the Chinese arsenal. How well will it perform against other nation's most advance destroyers and cruisers... well... I will let the expert here answer that question.
 

damitch300

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As you say in the end of your post.

I know for one thing, this might be done thanks to the cost picture.
I think that this mockup is for RCS testing...
It is expensive to produce extra powerfull radars while your got ships being build that needs them to.
Maybe they cant produce enough for both (test and building ships).
I think its mostly the cost picture to not do this.

Also they can test with the old one for how the angle is set up and if its fitted on the correct height etc etc.
It doesnt need the upgraded facia if the old one is quite similar.

In my hometown we used to have a lot of testing facilities on the dykes (dykes against water... Netherlands).
Today we only have an Smart-L, Smart-S, LW-08.
However, all 3 units are the old variant.
Aswell as the satcom.
Why?
Price, quite the same just old version or pre production (on board we got the upgraded and production versions)
And when we need to learn how to use them it doesnt matter, they perform the same and you turn/test then on the same at the cabinets.

Also why use the better version on 052D and not on their prideship.
Doesnt make sense, and therefore we can strongly suggest that they will use the 346A aswell on 055.
(Except if they go Romania style and downgrade a destroyer to a ship with only a maingun...)
 

Insignius

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To what purpose?

Would be pretty good for China's artificial islands.

And to protect Chinese naval bases/three gorges dam/population centers as well.

Sooner or later; I expect China to make something similair to Aegis Ashore - especially since it contains systems that are already proven and mass-produced. Only the HQ-26/HQ-19 or whatever the Chinese SM-3 and THAAD variants are, need to be tested with the 346/A radar.

I'm not implying that this mockup, which clearly looks like the 055's, is actually an Aegis Ashore stlyed complex.
 
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