055 DDG Large Destroyer Thread
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Lethe
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Some years back I argued that 055 could succeed 052X as PLAN's large combatant. I envisioned a three-tier structure of new generation combatants led by 055, with a new ~6,000-ton class frigate and a new ~3000-ton class corvette. The alternative vision was that 055 and 052x would continue to be produced alongside one another. This would undermine the case for a larger frigate to succeed 054A and in turn for a larger corvette to succeed 056A.
Subsequent orders are as they are. There are more 055s coming to be sure, but also more 052Ds and more 054As. The 055/052X vision would therefore appear to have been validated. But while this is certainly the case for the next few years, in the longer term I'm not so sure. We know that there was an 054B program dating back a decade now, and that it was associated with IEP. We know that 054A production came to an end and was then subsequently restarted, while 054B remains nowhere to be seen. The most compelling explanation for these observations is that some kind of development failure or project reorientation occurred with 054B and that more 054As have been ordered to fill the gap. The question is what will eventually emerge from that future frigate program. If what emerges is indeed a significantly larger frigate, the case for the continuation of 052X (or a new "mid-size" destroyer) would be undermined, though perhaps not fatally.
Subsequent orders are as they are. There are more 055s coming to be sure, but also more 052Ds and more 054As. The 055/052X vision would therefore appear to have been validated. But while this is certainly the case for the next few years, in the longer term I'm not so sure. We know that there was an 054B program dating back a decade now, and that it was associated with IEP. We know that 054A production came to an end and was then subsequently restarted, while 054B remains nowhere to be seen. The most compelling explanation for these observations is that some kind of development failure or project reorientation occurred with 054B and that more 054As have been ordered to fill the gap. The question is what will eventually emerge from that future frigate program. If what emerges is indeed a significantly larger frigate, the case for the continuation of 052X (or a new "mid-size" destroyer) would be undermined, though perhaps not fatally.
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Wonder weapons are quite difficult to field. Way better to have five very good ships for the price of one wonder ship... We forget sometimes that development of a new type cost a lot and it's a waste if you build only a few.
We also forget that one old mine or a dingy with tnt could cripple any ship...
The main problem with the Zumwalt was that it just cost way too much with a ill define mission. For example a 4 billion arsenal stealth destroyer doesn't make much sense when you can pop out a 2 billion sub carrying 96 cruise missles
optionsss
Junior Member
Yeah, I don't see the benefits of a 6000 ton frigate when 052D is around. I think we might have a 052e with IEP is much better. Given the current technology, the weight of missile, sensor suit, powerplant. I think 7000-8000 is the sweet spot, where you can have an ageis type system, enough VSL for sir defense and land attack and helicopter for ASW.
My read is that if you have already have a fleet with the Type-055 Large Destroyer (6 billion RMB) and Type-052D Destroyer (3.5 billion RMB), how much value does a Type-054B bring?
A Type-054A costs 1.5 billion RMB and performs as well as a modernised (and more expensive) Type-054B in an ASW role when covered by friendly air defence.
I don't see development failure or project orientation, as the Type-054B would mainly have modernised the radars, SAMs, CEC for higher intensity contested operations further from the Chinese coast
But I do see the Chinese Navy refocusing on the Near Seas operations, rather than on distant operations where the Type-054B would be better suited.
Benefits of a large frigate are in missions that:
-055 is oversized or unsuitable for.
-052D is unsuitable for.
Neither 055 nor 052D are really suitable to carry a significant complement of unmanned vehicles, and both are measurably tilted towards AAW and strike. Furthermore, there is probably quite a lot of room to improve ASW capability of either.
Appearence of hypothetical 054B (together with the existing huge fleet of 054A) may free 052 and 055 fleets for pure fleet operations, where those are the most valuable.
lcloo
Captain
6,000 ton frigate does not fit in present PLAN doctrine, though for NATO a 6,000 tons frigate does make sense. NATO needs large frigate to sail halfway around the World ( example from Europe to South China Sea or West Pacific region) for their new found (not so new actually) global intervention doctrine.
PLAN can have a smaller frigate but fitted with similar amount of missiles and sensors. PLAN frigates are expected to fight in seas around China, not in Atlantic ocean or East Pacific region.
PLAN can have a smaller frigate but fitted with similar amount of missiles and sensors. PLAN frigates are expected to fight in seas around China, not in Atlantic ocean or East Pacific region.
The problem with the above assertion is that 054B is supposedly built for the next several decades or indeed blue-water navy. If PLAN is going to be stuck around Chinese shores in the next few decades, there is really no need for 054B.
Or, for that matter, there would be no need for 003 (or any subsequent carriers) either.
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