055 DDG Large Destroyer Thread

[Tyloe]

H/PJ-38's low RCS turret design seems to reach far further down then those on 052D.

 

[MwRYum]

But what does that say about all the competent and advanced navies out there which don't have the kind of hull RCS reduction features that La Fayette had thirty years ago? JMSDF, ROKN, RAN, etc?

Well, I think the answer is that some of the RCS reduction features that you describe which was on the La Fayette FFG all those years ago are not necessarily "advanced" or inherently difficult to implement, but rather the question navies face is whether the reduction in that RCS is worth the extra cost.


I think the 055's design is the Navy being willing to fork out extra for a bit of extra RCS reduction rather than the shipbuilding industry somehow being unable to implement such a ship until recently.

I'd agree on the cost-saving department, considering the respective quality of "Enemy No.1" for JMSDF, ROKN, RAN at the time when they planned their current tier 1 surface combatants; whereas PLAN has a long-term disadvantage in both quality and quantity, so they need every edge they can get, if that means introducing "high-end" feature, what needs to be done has to be done, after all.

What most couldn't foresee back then is that China could make such progress in such a short time - and now JMSDF, ROKN, RAN and perhaps the USN too, finds PLAN rapidly closing the gap, but they themselves couldn't squeeze enough funding from the parliaments to maintain or even re-widen that gap.

 

[Tyloe]

I wonder what that array is above the national flag, starboard side. Large ECM array?

There's another set on the hanger; seems likely for seaskimmers aiming for the hull.

 

[antiterror13]

There's another set on the hanger; seems likely against seaskimmers aiming for the hull.

what do you mean of "hanger"?

 

[Tyloe]

what do you mean of "hanger"?

I mean on the starboard side of the hanger, right below the decoy launchers. They're likely another one on its port side.

 

[Blitzo]

I'd agree on the cost-saving department, considering the respective quality of "Enemy No.1" for JMSDF, ROKN, RAN at the time when they planned their current tier 1 surface combatants; whereas PLAN has a long-term disadvantage in both quality and quantity, so they need every edge they can get, if that means introducing "high-end" feature, what needs to be done has to be done, after all.

I think this paragraph is an oversimplification of many things and I don't think it really makes sense.

What most couldn't foresee back then is that China could make such progress in such a short time - and now JMSDF, ROKN, RAN and perhaps the USN too, finds PLAN rapidly closing the gap, but they themselves couldn't squeeze enough funding from the parliaments to maintain or even re-widen that gap.

The first part (underlined) is the only part I agree with, and I should add that I only agree with it in terms of overall Chinese naval development and not in terms of something as obscure as "enclosed bow = stealth/high tech" or whatever.
As for the other Chinese navy closing the gap and other navies wanting funding, that funding all depends on their own strategic requirements and isn't something that can be reduced down to "let's try to keep ahead of the Chinese Navy".

 

[Franklin]

Video of the launching ceremony.

 

[asif iqbal]

Can you believe there is 4 of these units

Can they launch all 4 by 2020 or 1 per year

1 in 2017 from JNCX
1 2018 DL
1 2019 JNCX
1 2020 DL

 

[Blitzo]

Can you believe there is 4 of these units

Can they launch all 4 by 2020 or 1 per year

1 in 2017 from JNCX
1 2018 DL
1 2019 JNCX
1 2020 DL

I expect they'll launch both DL 055s at the same time, probably by middle of next year, considering both are being built in the same dry dock at the same pace, meaning both will probably be launched at the literal same time too.

For JN the question is whether they will manage to launch their second 055 at the end of this year or early next year. If they launch the second 055 at the end of this year (and assuming they have a third 055 in the pipeline to be built at the same pace after the second 055 as the second 055 followed the first 055) then I expect they can launch their third 055 sometime in the middle of next year. If they launch the second 055 at the beginning of next year then it's possible they will launch their third 055 3/4 through the way of next year as well.

Either way, I expect at least 3 055s to be launched next year -- two from DL, and at least one from JN (assuming they continue building a third 055 at JN after their second, which I think is a fairly sensible prediction at this stage).
Or putting it another way, I expect at least four 055s to be in the water/launched (including hull 1 launched today) by the end of 2018.

 

[Tyloe]

The really wanted to reduce the RCS on this thing, even the decoy launchers have new housing.

Also screengrab on the huge hull mounted sonar.