Next Generation Destroyer thread (after 055, 052D)

[ACuriousPLAFan]

This thread is created as a branch-out from the 00X/004 future nuclear CATOBAR carrier thread.

 

[ACuriousPLAFan]

In order to avoid discussion from deviating out-of-topic, I think that prior posts in the 00X/004 future nuclear CATOBAR carrier thread regarding a possibly-hinted next-generation DDG for the PLAN can be discussed here.

That's the back half of something like a Zumwalt on the right? 058?

A while back JN's WeChat account used this art. Looks somewhat the same. View attachment 110444

Yes. But that's about it. PLA watching is mostly about collecting and interpreting signs over years. If you see models on defense industry expos, see patents or media articles that suggest a system is being developed, see prototypes through people who spot it coincidently or in media releases, etc, you can conclude that something is coming.

So:
- If we keep seeing a similar CGI ship on PLA or defense industry related material
- See patents or auctions that conform with a new destroyer
- See something hinting at a new destroyer in shipyard commercial statements
- Global times, etc talking about a new destroyer
- See new radars getting trialed

We can conclude that a new destroyer is coming. So the ship we see in these images is a sign we need to record but we can't say a new destroyer is coming.

And in particular:

Actually, now that I look at that image closer, it looks more like the vessel in this imageView attachment 110512

Got yet another illustration on what the next-generation Chinese DDG could look like, possibly obtained from the 舰船知识 (Warship Knowledge) magazine. Posted by @鼎盛边城 on Weibo.


One Zumwalt-lookalike... but unlike Zumwalt, this DDG has:
1. Only one railgun-like naval gun,
2. Equipped with a large VLS cell grouping right behind the smokestack superstructure, and
3. DEW-based anti-air weaponry.

Also included is what looks like a stealthy version of the naval variant Z-20(?).

 

[H2O]

IMO, submarines would be better than building tumblehome hull ships. I don't see why anyone would need something like that.

 

[dxq4412]

I really hope our military fans can have a little more imagination.

 

[FairAndUnbiased]

In order to avoid discussion from deviating out-of-topic, I think that prior posts in the 00X/004 future nuclear CATOBAR carrier thread regarding a possibly-hinted next-generation DDG for the PLAN can be discussed here.




And in particular:


Got yet another illustration on what the next-generation Chinese DDG could look like, possibly obtained from the 舰船知识 (Warship Knowledge) magazine. Posted by @鼎盛边城 on Weibo.
View attachment 113196

One Zumwalt-lookalike... but unlike Zumwalt, this DDG has:
1. Only one railgun-like naval gun,
2. Equipped with a large VLS cell grouping right behind the smokestack superstructure, and
3. DEW-based anti-air weaponry.

Also included is what looks like a stealthy version of the naval variant Z-20(?).

Still pretty conservative in terms of sensors. I would've liked to see some UAV integration, but the large VLS is a radical change that gives it some real strike power and the capability to act as the strike arm for a defensive carrier group like Shandong or Liaoning.

IMO, submarines would be better than building tumblehome hull ships. I don't see why anyone would need something like that.

subs have a hard time talking to other assets, can't effectively detect anything that isn't in the water, and are 5x more expensive for less firepower.

 

[dxq4412]

I am still waiting for the "all-round ship"by Ma Weiming to be born.
Unfortunately, there is almost no news.

 

[Michaelsinodef]

I am still waiting for the "all-round ship"by Ma Weiming to be born.
Unfortunately, there is almost no news.

What would that 'all-round ship' really be though?

I think airplanes on it would be unrealistic as well as bigger drones, at which point, anything above 30k tons seems unlikely, at most a 20k big ship?

But even then that would be putting quite a lot of eggs in one basket, not to mention, wouldn't that just be an enlarged 055? Why not just build more 055s?

 

[FairAndUnbiased]

What would that 'all-round ship' really be though?

I think airplanes on it would be unrealistic as well as bigger drones, at which point, anything above 30k tons seems unlikely, at most a 20k big ship?

But even then that would be putting quite a lot of eggs in one basket, not to mention, wouldn't that just be an enlarged 055? Why not just build more 055s?

A small UAV/helicopter wing of 5-6 helicopters and rotary UAVs would be pretty good. It would give the ship decent organic ASW and antiship targeting.

The large VLS opens up alot of possibilities including expendable UAVs, expendable cubesat launch, IRBMs, etc.

So basically I can envision a cruiser style ship designed to either operate near the coast alone (~1000 km) or operate in with STOBAR or light carriers in blue water.

 

[banjex]

A small UAV/helicopter wing of 5-6 helicopters and rotary UAVs would be pretty good. It would give the ship decent organic ASW and antiship targeting.

Gives me Kiev class flashbacks lol

 

[Blitzo]

I'm renaming this thread, because we shouldn't have "052E" and 055B" to be used in circulation yet as we don't know what the names of future combatants will be.

Better to not throw around names, as you will risk normalizing them before they're confirmed.