055 DDG Large Destroyer Thread

[Iron Man]

Interesting that both Naval Recognition & Henry lean to ECMs for those side hull arrays. Counter-argument for VSRs is their positions are too close to the waterline, and HPM power requirements won't be met. Placing ECMs to cover the flanks and amidship complements the H/PJ12 CIWS, and HHQ-10's obstructed coverage by the SATCOM and chaff launchers. Guess it's wait & see if the covers or new hints flip guesses.

Not sure what kind of ungodly ECM array requires two huge panels to work. When most people say "ECM" they mean specifically the jammer part of it, but the jammer itself is quite small compared to the rest of the EW array, which mostly consists of detectors.

Here is an AN/SLQ-32(V)2 with no jammer:


Here is an AN/SLQ-32(V)3 with jammer:


The V2 version is basically a RWR tied in to the ship's countermeasures system (chaff, flares, etc.)

As for the V3 version, clearly the jammer is the very small pair of panels on the bottom of the SLQ-32 EW array; an identical array on the other side of the Burke allows 4 jammers to face all 4 quadrants of the ship; this IMO is what the 055's bridge wing panels are; they are about as far away from the other shipboard electronics as is possible on that ship. The rest of those doodads on the SLQ-32 array are all radar detectors. Incidentally, that central semi-cylindrical device on the SLQ-32 array looks very much like the pair of semi-cylindrical devices sitting port and starboard at the base of the 055's coms/ESM mast. In any case I don't think those large flank panels are either jammers or detectors.

As for those large flank panels being VSRs, the fact that they are closer to the waterline is not a strong argument against this since VSRs are air search radars and therefore height above waterline is less important. OTOH I don't think they are VSRs either or they would cover bow and stern quadrants as well, but they don't. I think we should be willing to widen our imagination and consider non-electronics possibilities. I'm actually half-serious when I say those could just be panel coverings for something as mundane as life raft containers.

 

[Jura The idiot]

More wild speculation LOLOLOLOL

View attachment 40511

of yours?

 

[Iron Man]

of yours?

Yes, mine.

 

[sanblvd]

055 is now the favor Lego toy of navy enthusiast all over the world.

 

[Tyloe]

Not sure what kind of ungodly ECM array requires two huge panels to work. When most people say "ECM" they mean specifically the jammer part of it, but the jammer itself is quite small compared to the rest of the EW array, which mostly consists of detectors.

Here is an AN/SLQ-32(V)2 with no jammer:
View attachment 40523

Here is an AN/SLQ-32(V)3 with jammer:
View attachment 40524

The V2 version is basically a RWR tied in to the ship's countermeasures system (chaff, flares, etc.)

As for the V3 version, clearly the jammer is the very small pair of panels on the bottom of the SLQ-32 EW array; an identical array on the other side of the Burke allows 4 jammers to face all 4 quadrants of the ship; this IMO is what the 055's bridge wing panels are; they are about as far away from the other shipboard electronics as is possible on that ship. The rest of those doodads on the SLQ-32 array are all radar detectors. Incidentally, that central semi-cylindrical device on the SLQ-32 array looks very much like the pair of semi-cylindrical devices sitting port and starboard at the base of the 055's coms/ESM mast. In any case I don't think those large flank panels are either jammers or detectors.

As for those large flank panels being VSRs, the fact that they are closer to the waterline is not a strong argument against this since VSRs are air search radars and therefore height above waterline is less important. OTOH I don't think they are VSRs either or they would cover bow and stern quadrants as well, but they don't. I think we should be willing to widen our imagination and consider non-electronics possibilities. I'm actually half-serious when I say those could just be panel coverings for something as mundane as life raft containers.

I think the bridge wing sensors are only EW receivers. They bear the most resemblance to the AN/SLQ-32 (V)6 /SEWIP Block 2 which replaced the legacy receivers and antennae with phased array amplifiers, but doesn't have the jamming capability. That's included in block 3 which makes for a bigger array.

SEWIP Block 2 without jamming capability

SEWIP Block 3 testing prototype capable of jamming/EA

If those are solely receivers on 055 like V6 then the set of arrays below the bridge is most likely the jammers at least.

 

[Jeff Head]

055 is now the favor Lego toy of navy enthusiast all over the world.

I want a detailed 1/350 scale kit of the vessel. Come on Trumpeter! Get on the stick!

 

[Iron Man]

I think the bridge wing sensors are only EW receivers. They bear the most resemblance to the AN/SLQ-32 (V)6 /SEWIP Block 2 which replaced the legacy receivers and antennae with phased array amplifiers, but doesn't have the jamming capability. That's included in block 3 which makes for a bigger array.

If those are solely receivers on 055 like V6 then the set of arrays below the bridge is most likely the jammers at least.

It's possible the bridge wing panels are EW receivers only, but that wouldn't automatically make the larger under-bridge panel the jammer. That 055 panel is still far larger than the SEWIP-3 panel you have pictured there, and of course far far larger than the jammers on the SLQ-32(V)3. I would guess at least 6-7 times the surface area of the SEWIP-3 as the 055 panel's height is about one deck high and twice as wide or about 2.6m x 5.2m, while the SEWIP-3 is much shorter than an average human, probably in the neighborhood of 1m high and 1.25m wide, which actually makes it pretty similar to the 055's bridge wing panels. Plus the large panel only faces two quadrants. Plus there's another panel stuck to the 055's hangar of the same thickness but with different dimensions. It's just not adding up for me.

 

[Tyloe]

It's possible the bridge wing panels are EW receivers only, but that wouldn't automatically make the larger under-bridge panel the jammer. That 055 panel is still far larger than the SEWIP-3 panel you have pictured there, and of course far far larger than the jammers on the SLQ-32(V)3. I would guess at least 6-7 times the surface area of the SEWIP-3 as the 055 panel's height is about one deck high and twice as wide or about 2.6m x 5.2m, while the SEWIP-3 is much shorter than an average human, probably in the neighborhood of 1m high and 1.25m wide, which actually makes it pretty similar to the 055's bridge wing panels. Plus the large panel only faces two quadrants. Plus there's another panel stuck to the 055's hangar of the same thickness but with different dimensions. It's just not adding up for me.

If they are only EW recievers than the jammers' position could be the other sensors that are little unknowns, to complete the EW suite picture. On the other hand, if the under bridge panel is the jammer, it could be a model which has no contemporary, fitting a different set of criteria and/or philosophy. I guess it's wait & see if the two weird panels on both sides look different during sea trials, it may confirm they're at least arrays if they have covers like during a Type 346A installation.

 

[taxiya]

Some interesting guess works regarding the big panels are done by a poster on cjdby.

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(a guess of the purpose of the big panels)
He suggested that they are high power microwave weapons against anti-ship missiles for soft (disturbing) and hard (destruction) kills (its electronics).

The suggestion is supported by two earlier articles in January 2017 here regarding the reward to the program leader Huang Wenhua.

1.

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by

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2.

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by Elsa B. KaniaAn

Highlights:

1. Huang Wenhua received the 1st grade reward in January 2017 for his work on this system.
2. The achievement is a 18 years work. And it is the one (main) program since he joined work (after graduation).
3. A successful exercise (演习) test (实验) was conducted in 2010. Exercise (演习) seems to indicate the test was close to real world test, meaning ready for field deployment.
4. 6 years since the test, the system has went through further improvement.
5. Jeffery and P.W. suggested the system is the size of a lab bench.
6. Both articles above speculates the system's FIRST possible application is ship-borne anti antiship missile as the size of it demands (also power). The article by Elsa B. KaniaAn even referred to a paper linking the system to anti-ship missiles.

For instance, in 2009, ahead of its initial test, Huang

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a paper focused on the utility of HPM weapons against anti-ship missiles.

To me it makes good sense for 055:

1. The system was field ready more than 6 years ago.
2. The size of it is small enough to be fitted on a large ship.
3. The ship has enough electricity supply.

 

[Blitzo]

Some interesting guess works regarding the big panels are done by a poster on cjdby.

Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!

(a guess of the purpose of the big panels)
He suggested that they are high power microwave weapons against anti-ship missiles for soft (disturbing) and hard (destruction) kills (its electronics).

The suggestion is supported by two earlier articles in January 2017 here regarding the reward to the program leader Huang Wenhua.

1.

Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!

by

Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!

2.

Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!

by Elsa B. KaniaAn

Highlights:

1. Huang Wenhua received the 1st grade reward in January 2017 for his work on this system.
2. The achievement is a 18 years work. And it is the one (main) program since he joined work (after graduation).
3. A successful exercise (演习) test (实验) was conducted in 2010. Exercise (演习) seems to indicate the test was close to real world test, meaning ready for field deployment.
4. 6 years since the test, the system has went through further improvement.
5. Both articles above speculates the system's FIRST possible application is ship-borne anti antiship missile as the size of it demands (also power). The article by Elsa B. KaniaAn even referred to a paper linking the system to anti-ship missiles.
6. Jeffery and P.W. suggested the system is the size of a lab bench.

To me it makes good sense for 055:

1. The system was field ready more than 6 years ago.
2. The size of it is small enough to be fitted on a large ship.
3. The ship has enough electricity supply.

I think point 3 makes me most doubtful -- I'm not sure how much electricity a practical HPM weapon would need, and we don't quite know how much electricity the 055 can generate. If it was hooked up with IEPS I think we could be fairly convinced it would have more than enough for HPM and then some, but as it is, I'm not so sure.