052C/052D Class Destroyers

[snake65]

Top Plate appears to have different spacings and sizes of the wave guides on each face. If both sides are S-band, they are different wavelengths on the S-band spectrum.

Of course.

 

[by78]

Images taken at Yulin Naval base.

 

[by78]

From a recent exercise.

 

[sndef888]

Anyone knows if there any any plans to upgrade 052Ds into 052DLs perhaps during their mid life upgrades?

Or is that even possible?

 

[Tam]

Anyone knows if there any any plans to upgrade 052Ds into 052DLs perhaps during their mid life upgrades?

Or is that even possible?

I think that's still a bit far.

The question should be if there is any MLU plans for the six 052C and how will that be accomplished.

 

[blindsight]

I think that's still a bit far.

The question should be if there is any MLU plans for the six 052C and how will that be accomplished.

Yes. It's going to be pretty tricky for the 052Cs, right? Will they change the VLS? Will they relocate the hangar?

 

[Tam]

Yes. It's going to be pretty tricky for the 052Cs, right? Will they change the VLS? Will they relocate the hangar?

These ships are closest to having an MLU, assuming the first two, ships no. 170 and 171, were commissioned around 2004 and 2005. The MLU should be halfway of their lifetime assuming a 40 year span, so they should begin the MLU around 2022 or 2023.

MLU-ing the ship is a good exercise of your imagination vs. your sensibility, and always be mindful of your costs and stay conservative.

I come up with two versions:

The circular VLS is stripped and replaced with U-VLS.

The hanger is also stripped and rebuilt like an 052D's with the spine set at the center.

The YJ-62 launchers are removed, and U-VLS is placed there.

The radars are retained but upgraded internally as part of their overhaul. The Type 346's older modules will be removed and replaced with the standard modules used in the latest 052D. As usual, the back end is also upgraded. The radar isn't as big as on the 052D's and is slightly smaller, so it won't perform as well with slightly less elements, but using the new modules will kick it up a bit so it will be better than the original. The curved dome will be gone and replaced with a flat cover and we can assume the new upgraded radar will now be completely liquid cooled.

Optional change is the Type 364 Seagull radar to the dual sided dual banded AESA first seen on the 075.

Another optional change is the Type 517M Knife Rest radar changed to the Type 520 "Fly Swatter".

Keeping the two Type 730s, the Type 344 radar, the Type 366 radar and datalinks, and the main gun.

Should we extend the hanger? I don't know. Its possible to do so as it would require cutting the section half, then welding it back with a piece in between. A much more complex operation has been done extending a cruise ship. The question is whether you can afford the cost and the time for it.

The second version is that I don't change the hanger. All the circular VLS is changed to U-VLS, including the ones on the hanger. The YJ-62 are replaced by YJ-12 launchers. Then you have the overhaul of the Type 346 radar. This is the cheaper option but its not as elegant.

 

[sndef888]

These ships are closest to having an MLU, assuming the first two, ships no. 170 and 171, were commissioned around 2004 and 2005. The MLU should be halfway of their lifetime assuming a 40 year span, so they should begin the MLU around 2022 or 2023.

MLU-ing the ship is a good exercise of your imagination vs. your sensibility, and always be mindful of your costs and stay conservative.

I come up with two versions:

The circular VLS is stripped and replaced with U-VLS.

The hanger is also stripped and rebuilt like an 052D's with the spine set at the center.

The YJ-62 launchers are removed, and U-VLS is placed there.

The radars are retained but upgraded internally as part of their overhaul. The Type 346's older modules will be removed and replaced with the standard modules used in the latest 052D. As usual, the back end is also upgraded. The radar isn't as big as on the 052D's and is slightly smaller, so it won't perform as well with slightly less elements, but using the new modules will kick it up a bit so it will be better than the original. The curved dome will be gone and replaced with a flat cover and we can assume the new upgraded radar will now be completely liquid cooled.

Optional change is the Type 364 Seagull radar to the dual sided dual banded AESA first seen on the 075.

Another optional change is the Type 517M Knife Rest radar changed to the Type 520 "Fly Swatter".

Keeping the two Type 730s, the Type 344 radar, the Type 366 radar and datalinks, and the main gun.

Should we extend the hanger? I don't know. Its possible to do so as it would require cutting the section half, then welding it back with a piece in between. A much more complex operation has been done extending a cruise ship. The question is whether you can afford the cost and the time for it.

The second version is that I don't change the hanger. All the circular VLS is changed to U-VLS, including the ones on the hanger. The YJ-62 are replaced by YJ-12 launchers. Then you have the overhaul of the Type 346 radar. This is the cheaper option but its not as elegant.

Tbh I don't think they would upgrade the 052C that extensively, maybe change the YJ-82 to YJ-12 and upgrade the radar a bit
It already has 48 HQ-9s which is basically the same as 052Ds. Heck even the older 051C with the 48 S300s are pretty fine
Not worth cutting the ship up just to replace it with equivalent missiles

The 052Bs are much better candidates for MLU

 

[blindsight]

These ships are closest to having an MLU, assuming the first two, ships no. 170 and 171, were commissioned around 2004 and 2005. The MLU should be halfway of their lifetime assuming a 40 year span, so they should begin the MLU around 2022 or 2023.

MLU-ing the ship is a good exercise of your imagination vs. your sensibility, and always be mindful of your costs and stay conservative.

I come up with two versions:

The circular VLS is stripped and replaced with U-VLS.

The hanger is also stripped and rebuilt like an 052D's with the spine set at the center.

The YJ-62 launchers are removed, and U-VLS is placed there.

The radars are retained but upgraded internally as part of their overhaul. The Type 346's older modules will be removed and replaced with the standard modules used in the latest 052D. As usual, the back end is also upgraded. The radar isn't as big as on the 052D's and is slightly smaller, so it won't perform as well with slightly less elements, but using the new modules will kick it up a bit so it will be better than the original. The curved dome will be gone and replaced with a flat cover and we can assume the new upgraded radar will now be completely liquid cooled.

Optional change is the Type 364 Seagull radar to the dual sided dual banded AESA first seen on the 075.

Another optional change is the Type 517M Knife Rest radar changed to the Type 520 "Fly Swatter".

Keeping the two Type 730s, the Type 344 radar, the Type 366 radar and datalinks, and the main gun.

Should we extend the hanger? I don't know. Its possible to do so as it would require cutting the section half, then welding it back with a piece in between. A much more complex operation has been done extending a cruise ship. The question is whether you can afford the cost and the time for it.

The second version is that I don't change the hanger. All the circular VLS is changed to U-VLS, including the ones on the hanger. The YJ-62 are replaced by YJ-12 launchers. Then you have the overhaul of the Type 346 radar. This is the cheaper option but its not as elegant.

If the VLS on the 052C is compatible with newer versions of HHQ-9, I don't think your first plan is cost effective. But I really hate its hangar...

 

[sndef888]

If the VLS on the 052C is compatible with newer versions of HHQ-9, I don't think your first plan is cost effective. But I really hate its hangar...

What's wrong with its hangar?