052C/052D Class Destroyers
- Thread starter Jeff Head
- Start date
Rumor: Indonesia is currently eyeing to acquire a second-hand Chinese destroyer. Possibly a 052C or 052D.
Do treat this rumor with a massive pinch of salt.
Do treat this rumor with a massive pinch of salt.
Lethe
Captain
This seems very doubtful. Leaving the politics of such an acquisition aside, Indonesia already has more notional procurement plans than it can execute within the budget. And what would they even buy? 052 is too old unless PLAN proposes to give them away and Indonesia plans to use them only as a short-term (i.e. a decade or so) stopgap. There have long been suggestions that Indonesia is wary of the complexity and cost of even gas turbine propulsion, let alone steam turbines, so that all but excludes 051B, 051C and 956A/EM. Why buy second-hand 052D when you could order a new one customised to requirements (realistically, downgraded)?
As such the first pair of 052C would be the most compelling candidates in my view. These ships are not too old but are due for mid-life refit and upgrade which could be customised to requirements. Even then, operating a large destroyer with HQ-9 missiles is an expensive proposition. Indonesia has often accepted ships with less than complete weapons and systems fitout because the budget is not there to do otherwise. Yet now they are going to buy a ship with high-end radar and dozens of large missiles?
A rumour to acquire ex-PLAN frigates would be significantly more plausible...
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Won't be 052C, that's too outdated. Some of the parts could have been out of supply chains.
lcloo
Captain
Unlikely to be type 052C #170 nor #171 as they have just been modernized/ in the process of being modernised under MLU commencing just 2 or 3 years ago with PLAN specs. So their electronics should have been updated to same or near to the level as type 052D.
Other type 052C (batch 2) - #150, 151, 152 and 153, the oldest of which is 10 years in PLAN service. They are not too outdated.
Considering that China has one of the best supply chain management in the World, it is unthinkable that they do not planned for parts availability of a class of warships that is expected to serve for at least 30 years, i.e. beyond 2033.
Above has nothing to do with wether type 052C will be sold to Indonesia, just on (1) "that's too outdated" and (2) "some of the parts could have been out of supply chain".
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Considering the numbers of Type 052C and 052D, I don't think Indonesian Navy would prefer perchasing type 052c. Type C was just an experimental type before the mass producing type D.
052C would also require a refit to use other AA systems unless the Indonesian Navy intends to use the HQ-9 exclusive VLS or pay for a refit to UVLS.
It's a start, a very good start as China is building infrastructure, esp railway for Indonesia and trading volumes increasing, may even use their own currency instead of the US dollars
Well I actually doubt that it would be 052D because the PLAN needs all the Ds it already has to carry out increasingly tough daily routines due to geopolitics. Also, Indonesia has pretty strong defense ties with the US, so an Indo possession of 052D's full electronic suite would all the US intel to test the D's capabilities from inside out. However, like what you mentioned, Cs are mainly experimental ships, plus their equipment were older and inferior to the Ds, but the Cs are still capable defense vessels. The Cs simply lack offensive capabilities.