I don't believe the 051 is a bad design, other than using boilers. Overall this is the first warship the PLAN made that has a modern appearance with consideration to lower radar signature. I think the shipyards were pushing their design and construction limits with this ship, which I think was the main goal, the armament fitting being only secondary.
Well outward looks is bit smaller factor than propulsion arragments which are in effect the seccond most important feature in every ships after hull design. So in the light of that these ships were completely outdated when designed. But all this must be seen in the context which is the chinese overall ability to developt modern naval vessels in those days. The need of new and modern looking ships seemed to be so urgent that this sort of desperate move was made. In fact I'm more confused of the decision to build two additional units after 052B/C series. Few reasons brought PLAN to this IMO: Firstly the ships were most likely ordered before the 052b/C but those ships got the priority and the chinese were either not able to purchase additional gas turbines or that the turbine deal (which is more likely) came directly alongside the ships. As the Rif system become availble no other existing shipdesign which could accomodate this system was availble other than the 051C.
This tell alot of the chinese shipbuilding capabilities. Its shipdesign capability is quite narrow, only to redesign the 50 year old Neustrashimyy concept or the newer 052 which IMO is streched to its limits with the new 052B/C series. Its quite understandable as the past negelence of the shipdevelopment has left its marks. Basicly china is now in the situation looking form its ability standpoint where small, quite outdated and non-experienced shipdesign sector is given huge task to awnser the demands of the growing needs of new superpower. Results are seen and are quite easy to predict. Inadequate ships with illbalanced abilities. But none learns to run before walk and as there isen't any bigger nations guidance, the only option is to try, fail, learn and try again....
Is the SS-N-27 even on Russia's export list?
Even if it is available, mounting 8 of them may cause the ship to be overweight. Let's assume it is, how about 8 SS-N-27 and 8 YJ-83. Having 16 antiship missiles is overkill.
Well if its been introduced first in India and then in China before the russian armed forces, yeah I think it is. But I agree with you, there's no idea to mount 8 of them on top of the hanger. Aside overweight, they would create topweight also. IMO you don't need yj83 if you have Club so fit 16 Club-Ns inplace of the Yj83 if you are about to field them.
