I kinda feel they won't change the VLS.Logically they might. These ships might already have been designed for future upgrades in mind. I have ideas of how I may do it myself if I were in PLAN's place.
According to my own ideas:
The front circular VLS can be changed to the U-VLS, to be loaded with the latest version of HHQ-9. However on the rear area, the slanted antiship missile canister layout is retained but instead of the YJ-62, they are using the YJ-12 instead. Using the 7 meter missle requirement U-VLS, we might be able to use the YU-8 ASROC and quad pack SAM, but not the YJ-18, which is why we use the YJ-12 instead as the YJ-62 replacement.
The four main radar panels are overhauled, replacing the old modules with the current ones used in the latest 052D.
The IFF systems are changed to the bar arrays you see placed on top of the 052D's bridge.
The ESM antenna mast is changed to the 052D standard.
The Type 517 VHF array changed to the Type 520 'fly swatter' array.
Main gun and the two Type 730 CIWs are retained. So we can save our Yuan and get the ships out to service faster.
Add a VDS for the ASW.
052C already has a minor update installed where two ESM omnidirectional arrays were switched from the older design to a newer design found only in the batch 2 052D and 052D extended. Other minor updates include installation of new circular SATCOMs.
052C/052D Class Destroyers
- Thread starter Jeff Head
- Start date
I think the newer HHQ-9s will be supported using U-VLS specific canisters only, and they are going to run out or expire all the older HHQ-9s eventually if not sooner. They are not going to go through the trouble of making the new HHQ-9s compatible with the old VLS, while at the same time, the older radars may not be able to take full advantage of the newer HHQ-9s in terms of range capability. You may want the ability to support an ASROC like YU-8 and the quadpack SAM, and you need the U-VLS for that too. However, the refitted 052C might only end up with 32 U-VLS cells in the front compared to the 48 cells that were there before. But we have seen such a sacrifice done before, when the refitted Sovremenny only has 32 HQ-16s compared to the 48 Shtils before. They may not change the rear section because god knows what was placed underneath in those decks, so the best option there is to replace the 8 YJ-62s in the slanted position with another slant launch missile, which will be YJ-12.
lcloo
Captain
This photo was dated 22nd January 2020, both #170 and #171 entered dry dock at Huangpu shipyard on Longxue island. The dry dock was flooded to enable the ships to move in.
Google Earth image of drydock in HPS, this image was taken in 2019 and is latest available in GE. This image pre-dated #170 and #171's moving into the drydock.
It's very possible, PLAN will expand the DDG pennant numbers from 1xx to maybe 2xx once the 30 or so remaining pennants in the 1xx are filled.
But that's long into the future and will be after the full standing of 16 Type 055 and 51 Type 052C/D are filled.
It is impossible to predict numbers for follow up destroyers 055A and successor to 052D, the 05X, but will they build more than 30 of those?
I don't know. It will depend on a lot of factors at that time.
In terms of cost to capability gain a 052C full refit would probably be one of the least worth it refits the PLAN has done.
Changing to UVLS would require quite a bit of work on the ship structure. I think they would just upgrade the HQ9 sensors a little bit and maybe change the canister missiles to HQ-12
Changing to UVLS would require quite a bit of work on the ship structure. I think they would just upgrade the HQ9 sensors a little bit and maybe change the canister missiles to HQ-12
I see the existing Type-052C with the current AESA radars and VLS/missiles as still useful for the remainder of their service lives.
They can still be used as radar pickets or provide area defence for 2nd line areas.
antiterror13
Brigadier
Do you think it is possible that China might sell the first 2 052C to friendly nations, like Pakistan, Thailand, Cambodia or even Indonesia ?
The last 4 are relatively new, less than 10 yrs old. Even newer than some earlier 052D
Quite a while ago I heard from some one who have insider source that 052C would definitely swap to UVLS, as the old HQ9s are running out. For 346 AESA radar, it is quite natural to replace the old SiC T/R modules to the new GaN or at least GaAs module. However it might not be able to be differentiated from the look.