055 DDG Large Destroyer Thread

[timepass]

Some of the old ships being MLU’d could well end up as military aid gifts rather than return to PLAN front line service if the PLAN is keen to replace older ships without totally writing off any investments they already made on the MLU.

That could also be why the MLUs are progressing so slowly, if the PLAN is shopping around for foreign clients willing to part finance the (most expensive) electronics and weapons suite upgrades.

If Pakistan is keen on expanding its surface fleet rapidly on the cheap, this could be an excellent opportunity, especially with the two 054s; and maybe 051Cs as well, if they want to add fleet air defence to their toolkit. Since the 051Cs are using Russian radars and SAMs, I think the PLAN could potentially let them go ‘as is’, with only minimal modifications to allow them to network with the rest of the Pakistani fleet needed.

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I have highlighted the same on other thread that there are very serious rumors around PN circles to induct PLAN used DDGs ..... though numbers are unknown .... but IMO ... PN would love to have their hands on 052Bs/051B/054s/SOUVs/051Cs.

Remember, PN recently succeeded the test of extended range (+700kms) HURBA - cruise missile. Hence, these cheap platforms (MLU'd) would be ideal.

Currently, PN have following on their order book;

4 - 054As (under construction)
4 - Milgem corvettes (under construction)
2 + 2 - Damen OPVs - type 2400 (2 launched, remaining 2 under review to start construction)
8 - Yaun/Quing class SSKs (under construction)

 

[asif iqbal]

China needed a heavyweight 100+ VLS cruiser

guess they got 6 now

 

[AndrewS]

OTOH, if the current Sino-US trade war and general great power competition continues and intensifies, we are probably looking at a new Cold War, in which case the new arms race is well and truly on, and the PLAN would make every ship it can get.

All the indications are that the Sino-US trade war will resume after the 2020 US elections.
And if anything, the Great Power competition between the US and China is only going to get worse over the next 5 years.

It's spilling over in every realm you can imagine.
Diplomatic, economic, investments, trade, technology, etc

Plus the politicians and national security establishment are united in casting China as the next enemy

 

[plawolf]

I have highlighted the same on other thread that there are very serious rumors around PN circles to induct PLAN used DDGs ..... though numbers are unknown .... but IMO ... PN would love to have their hands on 052Bs/051B/054s/SOUVs/051Cs.

Remember, PN recently succeeded the test of extended range (+700kms) HURBA - cruise missile. Hence, these cheap platforms (MLU'd) would be ideal.

Currently, PN have following on their order book;

4 - 054As (under construction)
4 - Milgem corvettes (under construction)
2 + 2 - Damen OPVs - type 2400 (2 launched, remaining 2 under review to start construction)
8 - Yaun/Quing class SSKs (under construction)

I think the PLAN are keeping the MLU’d Sovs for themselves. I also have to question what MLU’d 051/52Bs would add to the PN that isn’t already covered by their ordered 054As beyond range, which the PN doesn’t really need?

Bare in mind I am thinking of a modest MLU only, so ruling of gutting the DDGs to add VLS.

Yes, their 16 above deck SSM loadout is unusually heavy for their size, but is it really worth investing in such big assets just to lob a few cruise missiles? Especially when the PN should be getting far more stealthy and survivable naval cruise missiles launching platforms in the form of the new improved Yuan SSKs in order form China.

If the PN is dead set on surfaced based cruise missile carriers, the Russians have far more cost effective offerings in their Karakurt-Kalibr combo.

 

[ZeEa5KPul]

If you have so many surface warships, what are they going to do in the meantime? You will end in a situation where the ships are competing for missions or they will get under deployed, where they will end up sitting in ports doing nothing. You better think of reasons to give these ships, these crews and officers something to do, and you're going to end up looking more and more like the USN doing patrols here doing FONOPs there and god knows what of any real value.

Sounds like one of those good problems.

 

[timepass]

I think the PLAN are keeping the MLU’d Sovs for themselves.
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Not sure about that.... time spending on them from stripping to MLU'd suggests that PLAN is not satisfied with the proposed MLU'd

I also have to question what MLU’d 051/52Bs would add to the PN that isn’t already covered by their ordered 054As beyond range, which the PN doesn’t really need?

It gives additional number of platforms (4 - 8) with cheap price....

If the PN is dead set on surfaced based cruise missile carriers, the Russians have far more cost effective offerings in their Karakurt-Kalibr combo.

PN's prime focus is to have cheap platforms in numbers in a short time frame hence Russian options are not on cards....

 

[Tam]

Not sure about that.... time spending on them from stripping to MLU'd suggests that PLAN is not satisfied with the proposed MLU'd

The PLAN is not likely to allow any ship to be exported that have the same ESM and ECM equipment as their standard ships. The MLU Sovs have the same EW suite as the Type 052D. The PLAN also doesn't allow the exportation of the Type 382 search radar which is also installed on the MLU Sovs.

The PLAN is willing to go through the MLU of destroyer 137 as previous commitment. The MLU of 138 and 139 however, remains unclear, and its possible that the shipyard will go through the upgrade of 525, 526, 168 and 169, ahead of 138 and 139.

 

[Tyler]

China needed a heavyweight 100+ VLS cruiser

guess they got 6 now

It looks like they will crank out 60 of these type 055, at the rate of 3 per year.

 

[timepass]

The PLAN is not likely to allow any ship to be exported that have the same ESM and ECM equipment as their standard ships. The MLU Sovs have the same EW suite as the Type 052D. The PLAN also doesn't allow the exportation of the Type 382 search radar which is also installed on the MLU Sovs.

Time will tell, since the acquisition is unknown (numbers & types)....

Secondly, I don't want to go on this old mantra that China would not share XYZ with Pakistan as its currently in use with their forces....

 

[lgnxz]

Why is Type 055 refereed to as a DDG

clearly it’s a CG

So Type 052D should be separate

7 x DDG
2 x CG

China needed a heavyweight 100+ VLS cruiser

guess they got 6 now

You should just stop insisting on calling it a cruiser. it would be as dumb as insisting on calling the new carrier as type 001A given the evidence is pretty clear that the 055s are considered as (large) destroyer.