Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 18, 2026

Type 052C destroyer

The Type 052C destroyer is a class of guided-missile destroyers in the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy Surface Force (PLAN). The Type 052C introduced both fixed active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar and vertically launched surface-to-air missiles into PLAN service, making it the first Chinese warship with area air defence capability.

Last revised
Jul 18, 2026
Read time
≈ 6 min
Length
1,325 w
Citations
113
Source
Xi'an at Pearl Harbor in 2016
Class overview
BuildersJiangnan Shipyard
Operators PLA Navy Surface Force
Preceded byType 052B destroyer (based on hull family and commissioning date)
Succeeded by
Built2002–2015
In serviceSeptember 2005–present
Planned6
Completed6
Active61
General characteristics
TypeGuided-missile destroyer
Displacement7,000 tons2
Length155 m (508 ft 6 in)2
Beam17 m (55 ft 9 in)2
Draught6 m (19 ft 8 in)2
Propulsion
Speed29 knots (54 km/h; 33 mph)2
Range4,500 nautical miles (8,300 km; 5,200 mi) at 15 knots2
Complement28042
Sensors &
processing systems
Electronic warfare
& decoys
  • NRJ-6A2
  • 4x H/RJZ-726-4A Decoy Launchers4
Armament
Aircraft carried1 helicopter (Kamov Ka-28 or Harbin Z-9)45
Aviation facilities
  • Stern hangar4
  • Helicopter landing platform4

The Type 052C destroyer (NATO/OSD Luyang II-class destroyer) is a class of guided-missile destroyers in the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy Surface Force (PLAN). The Type 052C introduced both fixed active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar and vertically launched surface-to-air missiles into PLAN service,6 making it the first Chinese warship with area air defence capability.7

Program

The first two ships, Lanzhou and Haikou, were laid down at the Jiangnan Shipyard in Shanghai in 2002, and entered service in 2004 and 2005 respectively.2 No further ships were laid down until 2010;8 the pause may have been due to the relocation of the shipyard.9 By 2019, six were operational.1

Design

The Type 052C appears to share the same basic hull design as the Type 052B destroyer, which in turn is based on the Type 051B destroyer. Stealth features are incorporated.2

The Type 052C uses predominantly Chinese systems derived from earlier foreign technology; the preceding Type 052 and Type 052B destroyers used a mixture of Russian and Chinese systems.9

Missiles

Forward VLS launchers source ↗
YJ-62 anti-ship missile launchers source ↗

The Type 052C carries 48 HHQ-9 naval surface-to-air missiles (SAM),2 each with a slant range of 110 nautical miles (200 km; 130 mi).10 The SAMs are cold launched11 from eight revolver-type vertical launchers, with six missiles per launcher.8

Eight YJ-62 anti-ship missiles are carried in two quad-canister launchers just forward of the hangar.2 Each missile has a range of 250 nautical miles (460 km; 290 mi).10

Guns

The main gun is a 100 mm (4 in) PJ-87. The gun suffered from jamming and may have influenced the decision to adopt a different weapon for the Type 052D destroyer.312 The weapon has a rate of fire of 25 rounds per minute.2

Close-in defence is provided by two seven-barrel 30 mm (1.2 in) Type 730 CIWS, one mounted forward of the bridge and one atop the hangar. Each gun has a maximum rate of fire of 4200 rounds per minute.2

Anti-submarine systems

Two triple 324 mm (13 in) torpedo tubes are carried; these are copies or derivatives of the Whitehead Alenia Sistemi Subacquei B515/ILAS-3.213 This launcher may fire the Yu-7 ASW torpedo.13

Radar

Forward Type 346 radar panels and Type 730 CIWS source ↗

The Type 052C is the first PLAN warship to mount3 the G-band2 Type 346 AESA radar.6 The four phased array antennas are mounted on the taller forward superstructure. The Type 346 is used for air search, and provides fire control for the HHQ-9.2 The combination of AESA radar and VLS SAMs produces a marked increase in anti-aircraft firepower over previous Chinese warships.6

Aircraft

A Kamov Ka-28 or Harbin Z-9 helicopter may operate from the rear hangar and flight deck.5 The Ka-28 is equipped with a search radar and dipping sonar and can also employ sonobuoys, torpedoes, depth charges, or mines.14 The Z-9 is a variant of the Airbus Helicopters AS365 Dauphin. The naval variant of the Z-9, the Z-9C, is equipped with the KLC-1 search radar, dipping sonar, and is typically armed with a single, lightweight torpedo.15 Either helicopter significantly improves the anti-submarine capabilities of the Type 052C.

Propulsion

The Type 052C propulsion is in the combined diesel or gas (CODOG) arrangement, with two Ukrainian DA80 gas turbines and two2 MTU 20V 956TB92 diesel engines.3

The DA80s had blade problems and may have contributed to the last two Type 052Cs sitting pierside at the shipyard for two years without being accepted by the PLAN.3

The MTU 20V 956TB92 engines were license-produced by Shaanxi Diesel Engine Works.3

Ships of class

Hull no. Name Builder Launched Commissioned Fleet Status
1701 兰州 / Lanzhou1 Jiangnan Shipyard, Shanghai2 29 April 20032 18 July 20042 South Sea Fleet2 Active1
1711 海口 / Haikou1 Jiangnan Shipyard, Shanghai2 30 October 20032 20 July 20052 South Sea Fleet2 Active1
1501 长春 / Changchun1 Jiangnan Shipyard, Changxingdao16 28 November 201016 31 January 201317 East Sea Fleet17 Active1
1511 郑州 / Zhengzhou1 Jiangnan Shipyard, Changxingdao16 20 July 201116 26 December 201316 East Sea Fleet16 Active1
1521 济南 / Jinan1 Jiangnan Shipyard, Changxingdao16 18 October 201116 22 December 201416 East Sea Fleet16 Active1
1531 西安 / Xi'an1 Jiangnan Shipyard, Changxingdao16 28 May 201216 9 February 201516 East Sea Fleet16 Active1
See also

See also

Equivalent destroyers of the same era

References

References

  1. United States Navy Office of Naval Intelligence (2018). PLA Navy Identification Guide (Report). Archived from the original on 30 April 2019. Retrieved 29 April 2019.
  2. Saunders, Stephan, ed. (2009). Jane's Fighting Ships 2009-2010. Jane's Information Group. p. 137. ISBN 978-0710628886.
  3. Bussert, James C. (1 November 2015). "China Develops Aircraft Carrier Group Leader". Afcea International. AFCEA. Retrieved 24 May 2019.
  4. Wertheim, Eric (June 2021). "Air-Defense Destroyers for the PLAN". Proceedings. U.S. Naval Institute. Archived from the original on 11 July 2025. Retrieved 3 June 2026.
  5. McDevitt: pages 61
  6. McDevitt: pages 59-60
  7. Cole, Bernard D. (July 2017). "What Do China's Surface Fleet Developments Suggest about Its Maritime Strategy?". CSMI Red Book. 14. United States Naval War College: 23. ISBN 978-1-935352-45-7. Retrieved 22 May 2019.
  8. Li: page 44
  9. McDevitt: pages 59
  10. McDevitt 2017, p. 60.
  11. Bussert, James C. (1 December 2013). "China Destroyer Consolidates Innovations, Other Ship Advances". Afcea International. AFCEA. Retrieved 22 May 2019.
  12. O'Rourke, Ronald (21 March 2013). CRS Report for CongressPrepared for Members and Committees of Congress China Naval Modernization: Implications for U.S. Navy Capabilities—Background and Issues for Congress (PDF). RL33153 (Report). Congressional Research Service. p. 28. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 August 2017. Retrieved 24 May 2019.
  13. "Undersea dragon: Chinese ASW capabilities advance" (PDF). Jane's. 2017. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 September 2017. Retrieved 24 May 2019.
  14. United States Navy Office of Naval Intelligence: The PLA Navy, pages 20-21
  15. United States Navy Office of Naval Intelligence: The PLA Navy, pages 20
  16. Jane's Fighting Ships, 2023-24 Edition, ISBN 978-0-7106-3428 3, page 142.
  17. Qian, Xiaohu (5 February 2013). "Changchun' warship commissioned to PLA Navy". People's Daily Online. Archived from the original on 15 February 2013. Retrieved 22 March 2013.
Bibliography

Bibliography

External links