asif iqbal
Lieutenant General
Do you know the size of the Maya? It is not 8,200 tons
055 DDG Large Destroyer Thread
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Do you know the size of the Maya? It is not 8,200 tons
If the ship actually works with an existing SARH missile like HQ-16, it might. But I prefer to see more substantive review like seeing the ship actually use one. Of course, if the HQ-16 turns out to be a new version that has ARH, that's a different story.
I for one would be surprised if we get to see HQ-16 launched from Type 055. I doubt that it is possible to quad-pack them either in hot-launch or cold-launch. They are just too bulky:
Seeing those bulky canisters makes me wonder if the steering fins can fold at all. The Russian Buk 9M317 (that HQ-16 appears to be based on) has a body diameter of 40cm (without fins), so even when folded it would be a very tight fit. Certainly couldn't quad-pack in a CCL for hot-launch. Miliseconds after launch, wings already at their widest span.
The Russian 9M317ME is more streamlined (36cm diameter body) with smaller wings, at the cost of range reduced to 32km:
If they have to use HQ-16 on the Type 055, it would have to be one missile per cell, and it would require a new canister for the hot launch. Unless they adapted the canister used with the land version for a cold launch.
When I mentioned about the HQ-16 for the Type 055, I was referring to artist concept drawings of the 055 that has been passed around the media that showed the HQ-16, along with other missiles like YJ-83, DK-10, and DH-10, to be used with the U-VLS. But these drawings do not represent official information, only the artist or author speculation.
The DK-10 is the missile most speculated as a quad pack missile, this is based on the SD-20, which is a land based SAM based on the PL-12/SD-10 AAM. That AAM happens to be ARH. SD-20 has been exported to countries but it does not appear the PLAN has chosen to adopt the DK-10/SD-20. Instead there is talk about a new missile referred to as 5-5-5 with very little details other than 50km, Mach 5, and 50G.
If there is a new mini-SAM for the 055, it won't be specific for the 055. I don't believe you would make a quad SAM exclusively for the 055 that you can't use on all the other ships. That doesn't have any logistical common sense. If you are going to make a quad packed short to midrange SAM it would have to be compatible with the 052D, and perhaps even with the 054A and the 052C. The 052C/D lacks any X-band illuminators, and I don't know how you can retrofit X-band AESAs on the ship without changing the front mast to an integrated one. It would also have to be compatible with the next generation Chinese Navy frigate whether it will be called 054B or 057, or if you prefer the other direction, the 054B/057 would have to be made compatible with it, requiring that it would be fitted with the same X-band AESAs from the 055.
Another reason why it would have to be ARH is that I think the they would use the PL-15 AAM's seeker for this. That seeker is definitely ARH. No other reason why other than because the PL-15 is the most advanced AAM seeker they got and its already operational. Much like the way the ESSM Block 2 and the SM-2 Block IIIC is using seeker derived from the AMRAAM, they could take the PL-15 seeker and adapt it for naval SAM use. But of course, the Chinese also have more than enough resources if they choose to design a new seeker from scratch.
All good points.However, SARH does have its own advantages over ARH that would warrant consideration. The way I see it, any of the following three alternatives are viable:
1. ARH SAM for plug-and-play commonality with all UVLS platforms
2. SARH SAM with ICWI for Type 055 and the new frigate only
3. Common missile body, but separate variants with ARH and SARH seekers, or even dual-mode seekers
For 2. to work, the new frigate would not have to be fitted with the same X-band AESA from the 055.
For example, ESSM can be guided by three different systems: CW via AN/SPG-62 and ICWI via APAR-X and SPY-3. But not in the same missile AFAIK. SM-2 Block IIIA can be guided by CW via AN/SPG-62 and ICWI via APAR-X. SM-2 Block IIIB supports both CW via AN/SPG-62 and the ICWI from SPY-3. Again, I suspect the SM-2 missiles have variants that support either CW or ICWI. The ICWI capable ESSM missile required only a software update to work with the ICWI waveform from SPY-3.
I can understand the advantages of using SARH but I don't see the need of making the missiles smaller. The sheer size of U-VLS, which is at .85m in diameter, almost like the Russian UKSK, allows for larger missiles to be quad packed than the .65m of the Mk.41. The HQ-16 is still way too big for this, but an all new missile made for this may still be bigger than ESSM, something more like a 9M96 or Aster 30. In addition the missile will likely be cold launched so you don't have to consider space for exhaust venting between the missiles, allowing more options for your missile diameter. I much prefer cold launch anyway because it doesn't leave much of an IR signature compared to hot launches.
My speculation for the quad pack missile is that it is essentially a lengthened PL-15 missile strapped with a secondary booster packed into a cold launch canister, this being the shortest way the PLAN can get one by developing upon existing assets. If any ship is going to test this, it will be the Weapons Test Ship 891 which is equipped with U-VLS. And what do you know, ship 891 has recently been congratulated by the state media with a propaganda infomercial video about job well done, and every time someone or some thing is congratulated some milestone has been passed recently without exactly saying what that milestone really is.
Given this, I suspect the missile may have a decent range and at this point, the advantage of using ARH manifests better with greater range.
Another thing is that its not clear if the 054B/057 may get the X-band AESA., One rumor floated around sometime ago, no idea how credible it is so you can take it with a grain of salt, is that the new frigate won't use this to cut its costs.
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