PLAN breaking news, pics, & videos
- Thread starter Jeff Head
- Start date
Until they're operational, I'm not into science fiction either.
The gist of the news reports are that a SAG composed of 2x 052D 1x 054A 1x 071 1x 903A from South sea fleet are exercising in East Indian Ocean. The comments section added that 2 more 054A from 28th anti-pirate escort flotilla are present in the West Indian Ocean. Are these going to intervene with Maldives if the situation calls for it?
I am able to verify the presence of 28th escort flotilla, but can't be 100% sure about the components of SAG in East Indian Ocean.
FFG 550 and 546, both from NSF, were around Gulf of Aden as late as Feb 10
It certainly would limit the eventual numbers of 055. How could it possibly not? By their very nature the 055X and 052X will share overlapping roles, namely long range (fleet) air defense (and of course antishipping and backup ASW as well), which when boiled down to its essence is a function of ship positioning and number of VL cells, both of which are mitigated by the presence of 052X ships in the PLAN ORBAT. The more 052X ships you have in the fleet the less 055X ships you will need. A 055X/054X fleet will have a significantly higher number of 055X ships than a fleet which contains a mix of 055X/052X/054X ships.
An IEP setup by definition cannot be "CODAG", which refers to the particular transmission gearing that links the engines together. In the case of IEP all diesels and all GTs output power directly into the grid (via their alternators) and not into a transmission gearbox. In other words they are not connected to each other physically (thus no "CODAG") but rather indirectly via the shared electrical grid.
I think it is important to keep in mind that it is not a given that the 052C or 052D has the ability to increase generator output enough to use GaN-based radars. The other upgrades you mentioned are nice to have but surely massively expensive, and of course some will have significantly higher power requirements, which again may or may not be possible. IMO missile upgrades are the most likely to be seen when these ships enter their midlife overhaul, with some minor radar upgrades. BTW there is no reason to substitute 4 YJ-12s or YJ-18s for 8 YJ-83s just because this is what you see on the 051B. The deck area where the YJ-83 slant launchers are located have plenty of room for larger slant launchers. If we do end up seeing this arrangement it is more likely related to cost limitations rather than space limitations.
Last edited:
asif iqbal
Lieutenant General
4th x 6,000 ton Ocean going tug launched
This is great news love these type of launched not high profile but very important
This is great news love these type of launched not high profile but very important
What I said was that both a three tier and two tier fleet structure could allow for a large number of 055Xs to conceivably be built.
I was not suggesting that a three tier fleet will have the same number of 055Xs as a two tier fleet, holding all else constant.
So when I say I think a three tier fleet will not put a "limit" on the 055Xs built versus a two tier fleet, what I'm saying is that the 055Xs built in the three tier fleet can be "a lot" but the two tier fleet wouod then be "a lot + even more".
That's why two replies back I asked what kind of number you had in mind as "fan estimations".
It certainly sounds like you're saying here that 052Xs would limit 055 production. "A lot + even more" is certainly more than "a lot", the only difference between the two being the presence of 052Xs. In other words the presence of 052Xs limits the number of 055Xs that would otherwise have been built had 052Xs stopped being built. While it is certainly fine to claim that 055X numbers will be large in either fleet structure, this is NOT the same as claiming that 055 numbers would not be limited by ongoing 052X production, because it most certainly would.
Look, the issue I had, was in #1951 where you suggested that the "popular projections" of 055X eventual production run was dependent on the idea that 055X will replace 052X, and that "popular projections" of 055X cannot occur if continued 052X production also occurs.
That's why I asked you what kind of numbers you considered to be "fan estimations".
For example, I think that 055X production might eventually reach 25-30 by about 2030, and that is with the idea of a continued 052X production. If there were no 052X production on top of that and was instead a two tier fleet (not saying I believe a two tier fleet will happen), then I'd add maybe another 15-20 055Xs instead by the mid 2030s in lieu with a ramp up of a new large frigate design.
But regardless of whether they continue with an 052X weight class combatant or not, I think they will still be able to reach the "minimum" range estimate which is in a circumstance for a three tier fleet.
The phrasing of your post #1951 made it seem like you thought a large number of 055Xs (whatever each individual may respectively believe that number to be) could only conceivably be produced in a situation where a two tier fleet structure emerges.
If you agree that wasn't what you were conveying then there is no disagreement.
"popular projections for the 055/A's eventual numbers will need to be tempered, since many fans' estimations for the 055 is as a replacement for the 052" --- also made it sound like a large proportion of the individuals who have a position on this issue, are on the side believing 055X will eventually be produced in large numbers due to its intention to replacement of the 052X category.
As far as I remember, Lethe is the one who has brought it up the most often but even he is not fully committed to believe it will happen, and I've considered it as a viable future as well, but I can't recall any substantial number of users who strongly believe in a two tier fleet.
I think I do understand what you mean now, but a few word choices in the original post gave off an impression that you were saying something else.