Type 052 (Luhu Class)

the new generation of Chinese DDGs must have, first a larger and much more powerful VLS system for true area airdefence, and second a true land attack capability in the form of cruise missiles like the Tomahawk

ASW and Anti-ship can be provided by many smaller ships, even small fast attack crafts have upto 8 x anti-ship missiles

I don't think we are going to see a VL LACM any time soon.

151 Zhengzhou is ahead of 150?

Originally Posted by hmmwv

I don't think we are going to see a VL LACM any time soon.

The VLS on the JIangkai II .already fires HQ-16 and CY-1/2/3 missiles, so when they reported a universal VLS, it's going to be one able to fire CJ-10 as well.

Originally Posted by A.Man

151 Zhengzhou is ahead of 150?

pennant number ps'ed?

Originally Posted by escobar

pennant number ps'ed?

The best way to tell if a photo is PS is to check for the "original".

Given this is a pretty clear and spectacular photo and neither on here or CDF has anyone posted a pic yet of an original I would say this is legitimate. Although I don't like the new pennant number style any more than the next guy.

From this angle the bow of 052C forward of the superstructure looks super long. I can really imagine the rear being stretched out a little.

Originally Posted by SinoSoldier

The VLS on the JIangkai II .already fires HQ-16 and CY-1/2/3 missiles, so when they reported a universal VLS, it's going to be one able to fire CJ-10 as well.

That's as universal as this VLS goes, CJ10 is significantly larger than HQ16 I doubt they can put it into the HQ16 VLS tubes.

Originally Posted by hmmwv

That's as universal as this VLS goes, CJ10 is significantly larger than HQ16 I doubt they can put it into the HQ16 VLS tubes.

I'm still confused about the situation -- when there were decent reports a few months back about a new universal VLS being successfully tested on a range, were they talking about the current 054A VLS being tested only with the sino ASROC, or a derivation of the 054A VLS (longer tubes for instance), or a completely new universal VLS?

If the first or second, I don't want to rule out LACM without knowing the actual diameter and width/length of CJ-10 and the 054A VLS respectively.

Besides, 054A is already equipped with HQ-16 and sino ASROC, I can't imagine the PLAN would be happy to limit their next iteration of DDGs with such a qualitatively weak loadout.

I agree, the helo landing pad looks too small, should be longer to accomodate a medium sized helo like the Z8, it still probably could but it would be a tight squeeze

Originally Posted by Bltizo

I'm still confused about the situation -- when there were decent reports a few months back about a new universal VLS being successfully tested on a range, were they talking about the current 054A VLS being tested only with the sino ASROC, or a derivation of the 054A VLS (longer tubes for instance), or a completely new universal VLS?

If the first or second, I don't want to rule out LACM without knowing the actual diameter and width/length of CJ-10 and the 054A VLS respectively.

Besides, 054A is already equipped with HQ-16 and sino ASROC, I can't imagine the PLAN would be happy to limit their next iteration of DDGs with such a qualitatively weak loadout.

Where is a link to this sino-ASROC? BTW, it wouldn't be called sino-ASROC, since ASROC isn't VL, it would be sino-VLA or something like that.

Originally Posted by Mysterre

Where is a link to this sino-ASROC? BTW, it wouldn't be called sino-ASROC, since ASROC isn't VL, it would be sino-VLA or something like that.

During the last visit of a 054A and 052C to HK (from the somalia taskforce I believe?) a few months back, a sign aboard the 054A mentioned it can the VLS can fire both HQ-16 and an "ASW rocket".

I believe there was a picture of the sign posted either on or on CDF, Mwyrum might've taken it for SDF seeing as he actually boarded both ships during the port visit.

("sino VL-ASROC" then, but I think most people would've understood it my reference to be for RUM-139 rather than RUR-5..)

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Edit:
posted by hongjian over on CDF those months ago:

Originally Posted by Bltizo

During the last visit of a 054A and 052C to HK (from the somalia taskforce I believe?) a few months back, a sign aboard the 054A mentioned it can the VLS can fire both HQ-16 and an "ASW rocket".

I believe there was a picture of the sign posted either on or on CDF, Mwyrum might've taken it for SDF seeing as he actually boarded both ships during the port visit.

I meant a link to a website/fansite where they talk about the sino-VLA. I believe this plate has been posted before, and it refers to capability, which while better than nothing, only states what the VLS could launch rather than what it typically carries. There should be some kind of independent confirmation. This weapon seems to be fairly significant and I don't really see any need for the PLAN to hide the existence or deployment of such a weapon since it's well known they've experimented with the CY-series and possibly gotten some ASW Klubs from Russia, though all of these are non-VL. It wouldn't be a terrible stretch to develop a VL CY-type missile, but I haven't heard a peep of it to that effect.

You have the PLAN themselves telling you the VLS on the 054A can fire SAMs and "rocket assisted torpedo", what higher proof do you need? Janes?

And I find your nit picking on whether the VLS normally carries ASROC rounds to be amusing. Would you question the USN's SM3 capability or cruise missile carrying capability based on a similarly unusual 'but do they normally carry them?' test?

Whether the 054A normally carry ASROC rounds is entirely irrelevant. The fact is that they can carry them and will if the situation is deemed to warrant it.

The only time it would matter if 054As normally carry ASROCs would be if you were planning on ambushing an 054A out of the blue in peace time with a sub. If hostilities had already broken out and there was a sub threat, you can be assured that 054As will be carrying some ASROC rounds into potential combat zones.

The PLA is a famously secretive organization. Pretty much the only times when new developments are reported before the PLA wants is if someone managed to get a picture of something. Now consider the nature of a VLS based ASROC and it should be pretty obvious how something like that can remain hidden. Just think about how many (or rather few) photos there are of HQ9s and HQ16s being loaded onto ships.

The fact that we have not seen a picture of such a weapon is entirely understandable, even to be expected, and any doubts the lack of actual physical confirmation is entirely overridden by the PLAN themselves telling us the VLS has this capability.

Originally Posted by plawolf

You have the PLAN themselves telling you the VLS on the 054A can fire SAMs and "rocket assisted torpedo", what higher proof do you need? Janes?

And I find your nit picking on whether the VLS normally carries ASROC rounds to be amusing. Would you question the USN's SM3 capability or cruise missile carrying capability based on a similarly unusual 'but do they normally carry them?' test?

Whether the 054A normally carry ASROC rounds is entirely irrelevant. The fact is that they can carry them and will if the situation is deemed to warrant it.

The only time it would matter if 054As normally carry ASROCs would be if you were planning on ambushing an 054A out of the blue in peace time with a sub. If hostilities had already broken out and there was a sub threat, you can be assured that 054As will be carrying some ASROC rounds into potential combat zones.

The PLA is a famously secretive organization. Pretty much the only times when new developments are reported before the PLA wants is if someone managed to get a picture of something. Now consider the nature of a VLS based ASROC and it should be pretty obvious how something like that can remain hidden. Just think about how many (or rather few) photos there are of HQ9s and HQ16s being loaded onto ships.

The fact that we have not seen a picture of such a weapon is entirely understandable, even to be expected, and any doubts the lack of actual physical confirmation is entirely overridden by the PLAN themselves telling us the VLS has this capability.

Yes, it was confirmed by many HongKong citizens who visited 054A anchor there for port visit. The crew were asked by many of HongKong visitors and the 054A crews were happy to inform them of this capabilities. Or probably somebody think he is more qualify than the crews regarding 054A capabilites?

Of course when asked about the true range of their HQ-16 VLS, the crew keep mute about it.