Type 051C (NATO codename: Luzhou class) is an air-defence guided missile destroyer, utilising the Russian-made S-300FM regional air-defence missile system controlled by the Volna (‘Tomb Stone’) 3D phased-array radar. Only two hulls have been built before the destroyer was succeeded by the more advanced Type 052C/D with indigenous SAM system.

Programme

Type 051C was built by Dalian Shipyard in Liaoning Province for the PLA Navy. The first-of-class, DDG-115 Shenyang was launched in December 2004 and completed its system installation in late 2005. The sea trial began in early 2006 and the ship was commissioned in October 2006. The second hull DDG-116 Shijiazhuang was launched in 2005 and commissioned in March 2007. Both hulls are deployed by the PLA Navy North Sea Fleet from its Qingdao naval base.

Type 051C was designed primarily for fleet air defence role, but it also retains reasonable anti-surface and anti-submarine capabilities. The destroyer appears to be based on the same hull design as Type 051B (Luhai class) introduced in the late 1990s, with a standard displacement of 6,500 tonnes. The destroyer is powered by steam turbine propulsion, indicating China’s continuing restraint on the gas turbine technology. The ship has a helicopter flight deck on the stern but does not have a hangar.

Like most Chinese-built destroyers introduced after the 1990s, Type 051C was only built in a small quantity to test the ship’s design and technologies. The most noticeable feature of Type 051C is its Russian-built S-300FM Fort-M (SS-N-20) air-defence missile system. As shown in its land-based equivalent S-300PMU, the S-300FM was proven to be highly effective against airborne targets and was found on all Soviet/Russian cruisers built after 1980. China ordered two sets of the S-300FM/Fort-M system from Russia in 2002.

Design

S-300FM Rif-M Missile System

An S-300FM missile complex consists of six large-size revolver vertical launching systems (VLS), each housing eight ready-to-launch missiles. Two revolver VLS are installed underneath the bow deck behind the main gun, and four inside the aft deckhouse on the stern ahead of the helicopter flight deck, carrying a total of 48 missiles. The S-300FM Fort-M (SA-N-20) missile system uses the 48N6 missile, which employs the track-via-missile (TVM) technology. First introduced in 1990, the missile is capable of engaging airborne targets at a range of 5—150 km and an altitude between 10 m and 27 km.

The missile is guided by the Volna (NATO codename: ‘Tomb Stone’) 3D phased-array target tracking radar installed on top of the stern deckhouse. The radar can direct 12 missiles to engage 6 targets simultaneously. Since two radars are required to give 360° coverage (as, for example, in the Russian Kirov class cruiser), this means that there is a blind gap in full SAM cover in the forward quadrant, resulting in a major tactical restriction.

Anti-Ship Missiles

The ship’s surface-to-surface fire-power comprises eight indigenous YJ-83 anti-ship missiles. The missile system has eight box launchers (in two groups, each with 4 launchers). The missile uses active radar homing and is powered by a turbojet (with a solid rocket booster). The anti-ship missile has a range of 120 km and approaches the target in sea skimming mode at a speed of Mach 0.9. The 165 kg shaped charge warhead has time delayed impact proximity fuses.

Guns

For short-range air defence, the Type 051C destroyer is fitted with two indigenous Type 730 seven-barrel close-in weapon system (CIWS) located in the mid-ship position on either side of the rear mast. The Type 730 system has a maximum rate of fire of 4,600~5,800 rounds/min and a maximum range of 3km.

The ship also has a H/PJ-87 single-barrel 100-mm main gun, which can be used against surface targets and air targets such as aircraft and low speed missile, with a maximum rate of fire of 90 rounds/min. The gun can be operated in fully automatic mode from the radar control system, from the shipborne optical sighting system, or laid manually. The turret design incorporates strong radar cross-section reduction features.

Anti-Submarine Warfare

The ship is fitted with two triple 324-mm torpedo launchers, which is used to launch the Yu-7 (copy of the U.S. Mk46 Mod1) anti-submarine torpedo. The Yu-7 carries a 45 kg to engage underwater target at a speed of 43 knots, and has a maximum range of 7.3 km.

Sensors

The air search radar is a Fregat-MAE-5 (NATO reporting name: ‘Top Plate’) 3D air search radar mounted at the top of the rear mast, offering two channels in E-band. The radar can track up to 40 targets simultaneously, and has a maximum range of 120km to aircraft and 50km to sea-skimming missile. There is also a large round radome mounted at the top of the rear mast, possibly housing a MR36 (Type 346) surface search radar.

A large round radome installed on top of the bridge houses the Mineral-ME (NATO reporting name: ‘Band Stand’) radar that provides anti-ship missile control and over-the-horizon radar acquisition and target designation of surface ships. There are two indigenous Type 347G I-band radars integrated with the Type 730 CIWS to provide fire-control.

Countermeasures

The Type 051C destroyer has two Type 946 15-barrelled chaff/decoy launchers, and two Type 726-4 18-barrelled chaff/decoy launchers installed at the mid-ship position. Active ECM system include the interceptor and jammer.

Aviation

The Type 051C destroyer has helicopter flight deck on the stern, but does not have a helicopter hangar.

Specifications

Displacement:......6,500 t (standard); 7,100 t (full load)
Length:............155 m
Beam:..............17 m
Draft:.............6 m
Speed..............29 knots
Range:.............6,500 nm @ 15 knots
Crew:..............N/A

Ship List

Nicknamed ‘Chinese Aegis’, the Type 052C (NATO reporting name: Luyang-II class) destroyers were the first truly multirole and highly capable, modern indigenous destroyers introduced by the PLA Navy. With a multifunctional active phased array radar, Aegis-type C3I system, 48 VLS-launched SAM, and eight long-range anti-ship cruise missile (ASCMs), the destroyers are believed to be comparable in general performance and capability to the U.S. Arleigh Burke class and Japanese Kongo class DDG.

Programme

The PLA Navy began to develop the concept of an air defence guided missile destroyer as the follow-on of Type 052 Luhu class in the early 1990s. However, delays in the development of the HHQ-9 SAM and phased array 3D air search radar led to Type 052B (Luyang class) being incorporated with Russian-built SAM and air search radar systems as a stopgap. The indigenous HHQ-9 SAM and Type 346 phased array radar finally became available in the early 2000s, and were incorporated onto the improved Type 052C destroyer.

Shanghai-based Jiangnan Shipyard began to build the Type 052C air defence missile destroyer in late 2002. The destroyer shared the same hull design as its predecessor Type 052B, but was fitted with completely indigenous weapon systems and sensors. The first-of-class DDG-170 Lanzhou was laid down in late 2002 and launched on 29 April 2003. Sea trial began in late 2003 and the destroyer was commissioned in July 2004. The second hull, DDG-171 Haikou was launched on 30 October 2003 and was commissioned in 2005. Both vessels are deployed by the PLA Navy South Sea Fleet.

For the next few years the Type 052C production halted as Jiangnan Shipyard relocated its operation from its original location south of central Shanghai to a new site on Changxing Island, in the mouth of the Yangtze River to the north of urban China. The third-of-class, DDG-150 Changchun, was launched in October 2010. Within the next three years, three more hulls were launched before the production finally stopped and was succeeded by the improved Type 052D (Luyang-III class) destroyer. The second batch of four hulls have been deployed by the PLA Navy East Sea Fleet.

Type 052C represented a significant development in China’s effort to produce a ‘blue-water’ navy capable of operating in deep waters of open oceans. It was also the first destroyer to have been build in a large number since the 1980s, ending the PLA Navy’s prolonged period of building different destroyer classes in small quantities to experiment with the various designs and technologies. The destroyers were designed primarily to fit the fleet air defence role with their powerful air-defence missiles and active phased array radar, but also possess decent anti-ship and anti-submarine capabilities.

Type 052’s size and displacement were limited by its two underpowered Ukrainian DA80 gas turbines, each rated at 32,600 hp (24 MW), in comparison with the four General Electric LM2500 gas turbines each generating 26,250 hp (20 MW) on the Arleigh Burke class. This in turn limits the height of the bridge to avoid overturning the vessel, which means that the four air search radar arrays could not be fitted at an ideal height in order to maximise their performance.

Missiles

A total of 48 indigenous HHQ-9 air defence missiles are housed in eight 6-cell vertical launch systems (VLS). Unlike the Russian-style revolver VLS, Type 052C’s VLS is fixed with each launch cell having its own lid. The missile system utilises a ‘cold launch’ method, with the missile first ejected from the launch tube, and then igniting its rocket engine at low altitude. This launch method avoids the complex flame and gas exhausting pipes on the Western-style ‘hot launch’ VLS, and also decreases damage to the ship structure caused by the rocket motor blast.

The HHQ-9 is the naval variant of the land-based HQ-9 surface-to-air missile system developed in the 1990s. The missile may have adopted some Russian S-300 rocket motor and control technologies, with a “Track via Missile” (TVM) guidance system developed from the U.S. Patriot missile technology. The missile is housed inside a cylinder shape container, which is placed inside the VLS, and is guided by the destroyer’s H/LJG346 (Type 346) phased array search and targeting radar.

The destroyer is armed with eight YJ-62 (C-602) ASCMs carried inside a cylinder-shape launcher (two 4-cell launchers at the mid-ship). The missiles are guided by the Mineral-ME (NATO reporting name: ‘Band Stand’) radar (or its Chinese copy Type 366) installed on top of the bridge and a ‘Light Bulb’ datalink forward of the hanger. The YJ-62 uses strap-down inertial guidance coupled with GPS, and active radar for the terminal phase. The missile has a stated range of 280 km, with the missile flying at an altitude of 30 m during the cruise phase of an engagement. In the terminal phase, the missile descends 7—10 m. The active radar seeker has an acquisition range of up to 40 km.

Guns

The main gun on the bow deck is an indigenous H/PJ-87 single-barrel 100-mm gun developed by 713 Institute. Resembling the French Creusot-Loire T100C in design, the gun can be used against both surface targets and air targets such as aircraft and low speed missile, with a maximum rate of fire of 90 rounds/min. The gun can be operated in fully automatic mode from the radar control system, from the shipborne optical sighting system, or laid manually.

For short-range air defence, the destroyer is equipped with two (one front, one rear) seven-barrel 30-mm Type 730 CIWS. The weapon system has a maximum rate of fire of 4,600—5,800 rounds/min and a maximum range of 3 km. Each CIWS has its own independent power-supply, as well as a Type 347G (EFR-1) fire-control radar (6 km detection range against airborne targets of RCS 0.1m2) and an electro-optic director (5—6 km tracking range).

Anti-Submarine Warfare

Type 052C has two triple 324-mm torpedo launchers (B.515S copy) for the Yu-7 (Mk-46 Mod 1) active/passive acoustic-homing anti-submarine torpedoes. The Yu-7 carries a 45 kg warhead and has a maximum range of 7.3 km and a maximum speed of 28 knots. The depth of search/attack is 6—400 m.

The four Type 726-4 18-barrel (3×6 arrangement) chaff/decoy launchers on the aft deck can also be used to fire ASW rockets if necessary.

Command and Control

A destroyer’s overall air defence, surface strike, and antisubmarine warfare (ASW) capabilities will largely depend on how well different weapon systems and sensors are integrated together by the combat system. Most previous Chinese warships use the command and control system derived from the French Thomson-CSF TAVITAC, but Type 052C is equipped with a newly developed system with improved processing power to engage anti-ship missile threats.

Although the detailed information on the combat system of the Type 052C is unknown, it is likely that the system will comprise the multifunction phased array radar system, command and decision system, battlefield display system, and weapon control system. The command and decision system receives data from ship sensors and provides command, control and threat assessment. The weapon control system receives engagement instruction from the command and decision system, selects weapons and interfaces with the weapon fire control systems.

In together with its long-range air defence missile and close-in weapon system (CIWS), Type 052C is the first Chinese-made surface combatant with a true fleet air defence capability. The combat system will ensure that the ship can engage multiple air targets such as sea-skimming missile and aircraft simultaneously. The ship might also be able to transmit combat information to other ships and aircraft via datalink and satellite communications to form a maritime combat network.

Phased Array Radar

Type 052C is fitted with the H/LJG346 (Type 346, NATO reporting name: ‘Dragon Eye’) multifunctional radar system developed by Nanjing Research Institute of Electronic Technology (CETC 14 Institute). The concept of the radar was first conceived in 1989 but its engineering development only began in 1995 after being chosen by the PLA Navy as the preferred air search radar for its air defence destroyer.

The radar features four large active phased array radar (APAR) arrays installed on the destroyer’s bridge, each consisting of 5,000 S-band transceiver modules and a C-band SAM guidance module, housed inside rectangle-shaped module. The radar module employs an air-cooling system, with the module cover in a curved shape to allow sufficient airflow in the central part of the module where the most heat is generated by the radar transceivers.

Other Sensors

Other sensors onboard Type 052C include:

• Type 517H-1 (NATO reporting name: ‘Knife Rest’) long-range 2D air search radar;
• Russian MR331 Mineral-ME (NATO reporting name: ‘Band Stand’) for AShM fire-control;
• Indigenous Type 344 (MR34) radar for main gun fire-control;
• Indigenous Type 364 (SR64) surface search radar;
• Two Type 347G (EFR-1, NATO reporting name: ‘Rice Lamp’) fire-control radar for the Type 730 CIWS;
• A hull-mounted H/SJD-9 medium-frequency sonar for active/passive search and attack.

Aviation

The destroyer’s stern hangar accommodates one Kamov Ka-28 (NATO codename: Helix) antisubmarine warfare (ASW) helicopter. Carrying various weapons including torpedoes and deep charges, the helicopter can operate in all weather conditions up to 200 km from the host ship. Alternatively, the destroyer can carry an indigenous Z-9C helicopter.

Propulsion

Type 052C’s propulsion is in the form of CODOG, consisting of two Ukraine-made DA80/DN80 gas turbines each rated at 32,600 hp (24 MW) and two Shaanxi diesels (Chinese copy of the MTU 20V956TB92) each rated at 8,840hp (6.5 MW), giving a maximum speed of 29 knots.

Specifications

Displacement:......6,600 t (full load)
Length:............155.5 m
Beam:..............17.2 m
Draft:.............6.1 m
Speed..............29 knots
Range:.............N/A
Crew:..............280

Ship List

First introduced into the PLA Navy service in 2014, Type 052D (NATO reporting name: Luyang-III class) is the latest variant of the Type 052 family, featuring a number of changes over the previous Type 052C (Luyang-II class) variant. Designed to provide area air defence, Type 052D employs an improved flat-array AESA and a universal 64-cell VLS capable of launching a variety of missiles from the same standard missile cells. These improvements put Type 052D on a par with the latest destroyers deployed by Western navies.

Programme

Following the completion of six Type 052C hulls, Shanghai Jiangnan Changxing Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. began to build two hulls of a new class of multirole missile destroyer. The new destroyer, designated Type 052D, is similar to the previous Type 052C in hull design, but its superstructure is slightly higher and slopes inward at a greater angle to provide further reduced radar cross-section. It also features a new active phased array radar (APAR), featuring larger radar arrays utilizing a liquid-cooling system. Type 052D also features a new single-barrel 130-mm main gun, and a HHQ-10 short-range SAM launcher on the stern.

The most significant change on Type 052D is its universal 64-cell vertical launch system (VLS). Unlike the VLS on Type 052C, which can only launch the HHQ-9 air-defence missile, the new VLS allows missiles of different types and sizes to be carried and launched from the standard missile cells. As a result, Type 052D can carry a variety of air-defence, anti-surface, and anti-submarine weapons according to its mission requirement, providing much greater flexibility and also a rapid-fire launch capability against the various hostile threats.

Type 052D is the ultimate design of the PLA Navy’s 052 family of destroyers, being constructed in a significant number to replace its ageing destroyers. Five hulls had already been commissioned into service as of January 2017, with another 12 hulls either undergoing sea trial or under construction. In addition to the Shanghai-based Jiangnan Changxing Shipyard, some of these hulls are being constructed at Dalian Shipyard in northeast China.

Universal Vertical Launch System

Two universal 32-cell (4 x 8) Dual Hot/Cold-launch VLS are located on the bow deck and amidships respectively. It is the first Chinese VLS to have been developed to to GJB 5860-2006 National Military Standard, which allows launch of missiles using either ‘Cold’ or ‘Hot’ launch method. The rectangle-shaped VLS cell is similar to the Hot-launched VLS on the Type 054A (Jiangkai-II class) missile frigate, but without the shared exhaust vents between the rows of launching tubes. Instead, it utilises a more advanced concentric canister launch (CCL) method, which was first pioneered by US Navy in the mid-1990 for Mk 41 VLS upgrade.

Missiles that can be carried and launched from Type 052D’s universal VLS include:

• HHQ-9 long-range SAM;
• HHQ-16 medium-range SAM;
• HHQ-10 short-range SAM (four missiles in a single cell);
• YJ-18 anti-ship cruise missile (ASCM);

In addition, it has been rumoured that the VLS can also carry and launch the CJ-10 land-attack cruise missile (LACM) and CY-5/Yu-8 rocket-propelled torpedo, but this claim has not been confirmed.

Short-Range Air Defence

A single 24-cell HHQ-10 short-range SAM is fitted on the stern deck atop the helicopter hangar. The missile launcher is similar to the U.S. Navy RIM-116 in arrangement. Derived from the TY-90 short-range AAM, the HQ-10 is fitted with a dual passive radar-/infrared-homing seeker and has a maximum range of 9 km. An improved variant is reportedly fitted with an independent active infrared seeker, with a maximum range of 10 km.

A seven-barrel 30-mm Type 730 CIWS is installed on the bow deck ahead of the bridge. The weapon system has a maximum rate of fire of 4,600—5,800 rounds/min and a maximum range of 3 km. Each CIWS has its own independent power-supply, as well as a Type 347G (EFR-1) fire-control radar (6 km detection range against airborne targets of RCS 0.1m2) and an electro-optic director (5—6 km tracking range).

Guns

The main gun on the bow deck is an indigenous H/PJ-38 single-barrel 130-mm gun developed by Zhengzhou Institute of Machinery and Electronics (713 Institute) and built by the Second Inner Mongolia Machinery Plant. The H/PJ-38 is modelled after (but not a direct copy of) the Russian AK-130 automatic naval gun, and can be operated in fully automatic mode from the radar control system, from the shipborne optical sighting system, or laid manually. The gun can fire 86.2 kg projectiles at a maximum rate of 70 rounds/min to a maximum range of 23 km.

Anti-Submarine Warfare

Type 052D has two triple 324-mm torpedo launchers (B.515S copy) for the Yu-7 (Mk-46 Mod 1) active/passive acoustic-homing anti-submarine torpedoes. The Yu-7 carries a 45 kg warhead and has a maximum range of 7.3 km and a maximum speed of 28 knots. The depth of search/attack is 6—400 m.

The four Type 726-4 18-barrel (3×6 arrangement) chaff/decoy launchers on the aft deck can also be used to fire ASW rockets if necessary.

Phased Array Radar

Type 052D is fitted with the improved H/LJG346A (Type 346A, NATO reporting name: ‘Dragon Eye’) multifunctional active phased array radar (APAR) system developed by Nanjing Research Institute of Electronic Technology (CETC 14 Institute). Each rectangle-shaped radar array consists of several thousands of S-band transceiver modules for long-range air search and a C-band module for HQ-9 SAM targeting.

Compared with the Type 346 APAR on Type 052C, the new radar features four larger radar arrays, presumably housing more radar transceivers. The curving radar arrays resulted by the need for air circulation on the earlier APAR on Type 052C have been replaced by flat arrays, suggesting the adoption of a liquid cooling system instead of the mixed air and liquid cooling system on earlier APAR on board Type 052C.

Other Sensors

Other sensors onboard Type 052D include:

• Type 517H-1 (NATO reporting name: ‘Knife Rest’) long-range 2D air search radar;
• Russian MR331 Mineral-ME (NATO reporting name: ‘Band Stand’) for AShM fire-control;
• Indigenous Type 344 (MR34) radar for main gun fire-control;
• Indigenous Type 364 (SR64) surface search radar;
• Indigenous Type 347G (EFR-1, NATO reporting name: ‘Rice Lamp’) fire-control radar for the Type 730 CIWS;
• A hull-mounted H/SJD-9 medium-frequency sonar for active/passive search and attack.

Aviation

The destroyer’s stern hangar accommodates one Kamov Ka-28 (NATO codename: Helix) antisubmarine warfare (ASW) helicopter. Carrying various weapons including torpedoes and deep charges, the helicopter can operate in all weather conditions up to 200 km from the host ship. Alternatively, the destroyer can carry an indigenous Z-9C helicopter.

Propulsion

The propulsion is in the form of CODOG, consisting of two Ukraine-made DA80/DN80 (or their Chinese licensed copies) gas turbines each rated at 32,600 hp (24 MW) and two Shaanxi diesels (Chinese copy of the MTU 20V956TB92) each rated at 8,840hp (6.5 MW), giving a maximum speed of 29 knots.

Specifications

Displacement:......6,900 t (full load)
Length:............N/A
Beam:..............N/A
Draft:.............N/A
Speed..............29 knots
Range:.............N/A
Crew:..............280

Ship List

The first Xi’an Aircraft Industries Company (XAC) MA-60H maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) has entered service with the China Coast Guard.

During a ceremony on 19 June, the MA-60 (registration number B-5002) was officially commissioned by the CCG South Sea Bureau, operating from the newly constructed Bo’ao Airport on Hainan Island.

The aircraft is based on the airframe of the Xi’an MA-60 twin-turboprop airliner, a modernised version of its Y-7 aircraft. The Y-7 was developed in the late 1970s as a reverse-engineered copy of the Soviet Antonov An-24 (NATO reporting name: “Coke”). The aircraft was radically upgraded in the late 1990s to be incorporated with Western-made sub-systems, including the Pratt & Whitney Canada PW127J turboprop engine, Hamilton Standard propellers, Garrett (now Honeywell) APU, and Honeywell/King KHF 950 radio.

The MA-60 made its maiden flight in 2000 and is now serving with 13 countries including Zimbabwe, Bolivia, Indonesia, Tajikistan, Tonga, and Laos. The improved MA-600 first flew in 2008.

Development of the MA-60 MPA, designated MA-60H, began around 2013 after receiving an order from the State Oceanic Administration (SOA). The ‘B-5002’ rolled out of the production line in October 2016 and was delivered to the CCG in April this year. The aircraft is said to be equipped with a fuselage-mounted surveillance radar and a nose-mounted electro-optical surveillance system. It also features a fuselage-mounted and two underwing auxiliary tanks for extended range.

Although the MA-60H is not believed to be armed, AVIC has previously revealed an MA-60 MPA concept that would carry torpedoes and sonobuoys for anti-submarine warfare (ASW).

Xuchang (pennant number: 536), the 24th hull of the Type 054A missile frigate, was officially commissioned into service by the PLA Navy South Sea Fleet at Zhanjiang Naval Base on 23 June.

Also known as ‘Jiangkai-II’ class in its NATO reporting name, Type 054A is the most capable frigate design in service with the PLA Navy. Its most distinctive weapon includes two 16-cell vertical launch systems (VLS) firing the HHQ-16 (Chinese copy of the Russian SA-N-12 ‘Grizzly’)) semi-active radar-homing air-defence missile. The vessel is also equipped with two Type 1130 11-barrelled 30-mm close-in weapon systems (CIWS), eight YJ-83 anti-ship missiles (AShM), two 6-cell 240 mm anti-submarine rocket launchers, and two 3-cell 324 mm torpedo launchers.

Most of Type 054A’s sensors are of Russian origin, including an H/LJQ-366 (Chinese copy of the MR331 Mineral-ME ‘Band Stand’) AShM fire-control radar, four Chinese copies of the MR90 ‘Front Dome’ SAM targeting radar, an H/LJQ-382 (Chinese copy of the Fregat-M2EM ‘Top Plate’) 3D air search radar, and an H/SJD-307 (Chinese copy of the MGK-335EM-03) hull-mounted medium-frequency sonar. In addition, the vessel is also believed to be equipped with towed array sonar system and variable depth sonar (VDS) for anti-submarine warfare.

The first-of-class was introduced in 2008, with as many as 36 hulls planned to replace the large number of ageing Type 053H (‘Jianghu’ class) frigates introduced in the 1970s—90s.

Type 054A has been constructed at two shipyards, the Shanghai-based Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding (Group) Co, Ltd. and the Guangzhou Huangpu Shipbuilding Ltd.

Xuchang (536) was launched at the Guangzhou Huangpu Shipyard on 30 May 2016. At least another three hulls of the same class have been subsequently launched and are expected to enter service later this year or in early 2018. Production of the frigate is expected to continue until 2020. China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC) is reportedly developing a successor designated Type 054B, possibly featuring a more advanced universal VLS similar to that onboard the Type 052D (‘Luyang-III’ class) missile destroyer.

The PLA Air Force (PLAAF) will send its indigenous Chengdu J-10B multirole fighters to take part in the ‘Aviadarts’ competition between July 30 and August 9, the Chinese Ministry of National Defence (MND) has confirmed.

The ‘Aviadarts’ competition is an annual tactical aviation training and contest event involving the Russian Aerospace Forces as well as air forces of its close allies including China and some CIS countries including Belarus and Kazakhstan. The event is part of the 3rd International Army Games, which includes a wide range of air, sea, and land contest events to improve training and exchange experience between partner armed forces.

The ‘Aviadarts’ competition has been traditionally hosted in Russia but for this year the event is taking place in Changchun, Jilin Province in northeast China—the first it is held on a foreign soil.

Source: Chinese Ministry of National Defence

The Chengdu J-10B is an improved variant of the single-engine J-10 fighter, which was first introduced in the late 1990s as China’s first indigenous 4th-generation fighter. The original mission was air superiority, but the changing requirements shifted development towards a multirole fighter to replace the large numbers of J-6 and J-7 fighters in service with the PLAAF at the time.

The J-10B first flew in December 2008 and entered service with the PLAAF around 2014. It made the first public debut during the 2016 Zhuhai Air Show. The most distinctive modification on the J-10B is its chin-mounted diffuser supersonic inlet (DSI), which employs a one-piece bump at the top of the inlet replacing the movable ramp on the original J-10. This eliminates all moving parts on the inlet, lightening the overall weight and reducing the aircraft’s radar signature.

The J-10B has also been added with an electronic-optic targeting system (EOTS). Placed forward of the cockpit canopy to the right, the system comprises an infrared search and track (IRST) sensor and a laser rangefinder, which can detect enemy targets passively without requiring to turn on the fire-control radar, thus reducing the chance of the aircraft being detected. Like its predecessor, the aircraft is powered by a single Russian Saturn AL-31FN engine.

Source: Chinese Ministry of National Defence

The aircraft has also been upgraded with an improved suite of avionics, including an indigenous passive electronically scanned array (PESA) fire-control radar, capable of engaging 4 targets simultaneously. The upper edge of the aircraft’s tailfin is curved, in contrast to the straight-edged tailfin of the J-10. A large fairing is added to the tip of the tailfin to accommodate electronic warfare and countermeasures (EW/ECM) equipment. There are also four black electronic countermeasures (ECM) antenna arrays attached externally to the fuselage.

The J-10B can carry a wide range of air-to-air and ground strike weapons, including the latest PL-10 IR-homing SRAAM, PL-15 active radar-homing LRAAM, and laser-guided bombs. As well as serving with the PLAAF, the aircraft is also available to the international market.

This year’s ‘Aviadarts’ competition will be the first time the J-10B is placed in direct competition with Russia’s 4th-generation fighters such as the Su-30MS and Su-35S.

The lead ship of China’s new-generation Type 055 missile destroyers was launched today (28 June) at Jiangnan Shipyard on Changxing Island, Shanghai.

In a ceremony attended by General Zhang Youxia, Director of the CMC’s Equipment Development Department, the destroyer was launched from the shipyard’s dry dock, where the construction of the vessel commenced in late 2014. Next the vessel will undergo sea trails before it is ready to be commissioned into service.

Type 055 has been identified by the U.S. Department of Defense as “Renhai” class cruiser (CG), though Chinese media reports still refer to the vessel as a destroyer. With an estimated displacement of 10,000 tonnes, it is the largest surface combatant ever constructed by China, almost 50% larger than the previous Type 052D (“Luyang-III” class) destroyer and also exceeds the U.S. Arleigh Burke class DDG.

China’s Xinhua News Agency stated that the vessel is “equipped with new air-defence, missile-defence, anti-ship, and anti-submarine weapons”. TV images of the launch ceremony shows the vessel to feature a ‘clean’ superstructure similar to that of Type 052D. The hull and superstructure are sloped to reduce its radar cross section (RCS). Weapon arrangement on the bow deck is almost identical to that of Type 052D, with an H/PJ-38 single-barrel 130-mm/70-calibre naval gun at front, a vertical launching system (VLS) in the middle, and a Type 1130 11-barrel close-in weapon system (CIWS) just forward of the bridge.

Type 055 is equipped with a 128-cell VLS (in contrast to 64-cell on Type 052D), which is capable of firing a range of missiles from its universal rectangle-shaped missile cells. Two 64-cell VLS grids are located on the bow deck in front of the bridge and amidships forward of the helicopter hangar respectively. Missiles that can be carried by the destroyer may include the HHQ-9 long-range SAM, HHQ-16 medium-range SAM, HHQ-10 short-range SAM, YJ-18 anti-ship missile (AShM), and possibly DF-10 land-attack cruise missile (LACM).

Like its predecessor, Type 055 is also equipped with the H/LJG346A (NATO reporting name: ‘Dragon Eye’) multifunctional active phased array radar (APAR) developed by Nanjing Research Institute of Electronic Technology (CETC 14 Institute). Four rectangle-shaped radar arrays are installed on the bridge, each consisting of several thousand transceiver modules for long-range air search and missile targeting. In addition, there are four smaller rectangle-shaped arrays on the main mast for unknown purpose.

Type 055 has possibly adopted a CODOG propulsion, consisting of four Ukraine-made DA80/DN80 (or their Chinese licensed copies) gas turbines each rated at 32,600 hp (24 MW). Previously there have been speculations about a possible integrated electric propulsion system on Type 055, but this is highly unlikely.

At least four Type 055 destroyers are under construction, two at Shanghai-based Jiangnan Shipyard and two at Dalian Shipyard in northern China.

Type 055 is not the only active shipbuilding programme of the PLA Navy. Constructions are continuing with three other classes of surface combatants, including the 7,000-tonne Type 052D (“Luyang-III” class) destroyer, 4,500-tonne Type 054A (“Jiangkai-II” class) frigate, and 1,500-tonne Type 056 (“Jiangdao” class) light frigate.

China has received the second batch of the 24 Su-35S ‘Flanker-E’ fighters it ordered from Russia.

The four Su-35S fighters in the PLAAF livery, accompanied by a Russian Il-76TD jet transport, flew from Komsomolsk-on-Amur Aircraft Production Association (KnAAPO) to China on Wednesday 28 June. After a short fuel stop at an air base in central China, these fighters continued to fly to their operating base in southern China.

Reportedly Chinese Su-35 on their way to China… real or faked? pic.twitter.com/g29MMTsYNt

— @Rupprecht_A (@RupprechtDeino) June 29, 2017

The Chinese state news agency Xinhua has released TV images of PLA Navy aircraft carrier Liaoning in a “cross-regional training”, after leaving its homeport in Qingdao about a week ago. The aircraft carrier will visit Hong Hong later this week for the celebration of the 20^th anniversary of the handover of Hong Kong to China and the station of the PLA at the former British colony.

The Chinese state media reported on Tuesday (11 July) the deployment of military troops and warships to the country’s first ever overseas base – officially referred to as “a naval logistics support facility” – located in Djibouti.

In a ceremony held at Zhanjiang Naval Base in the southern province of Guangdong, Admiral Shen Jinlong, Commander of the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN), read an order on setting up the base in Djibouti, and conferred military flag to the expeditionary unit.

The expeditionary unit to Djibouti consists of two naval vessels – a Type 071 (NATO reporting name: Yuzhao class) amphibious transport dock Jinggangshan (999), and a semi-submersible transport ship Donghaidao (868). The latter is similar to the U.S. Navy’s Montford Point class mobile landing platform (MLP) in concept, and can be used to transport air cushion landing craft and other small naval vessels. In additional to the sailors on the two vessels, the expeditionary unit also includes a Marine detachment of 300—400 soldiers.

This is the first time the PLA officially deploys its personnel and warships to a foreign country on a permanent basis. It also marks a historical departure from the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence – a set of principles that govern China’s foreign policies since the 1950s and later formed the basis of the Non-Aligned Movement.

During the Cold War era, the Chinese government had firmly rejected the deployment of foreign military forces, including those of its then close ally the Soviet Union, on its soils, nor did not want to station its own military forces in other countries. Until 1981, China abstained from voting on peacekeeping resolutions or contributing peacekeeping funds or personnel. For the next decade, it continued to abstain on most resolutions, so as to appear neutral to all parties.

After adopting the ‘Reform and Opening Up’ policy in the 1980s, the Chinese government’s attitude towards deployment of its military to foreign countries gradually shifted. In 1992, China took part in its first UN peacekeeping mission to Cambodia. By 2015, China had committed 8,000 troops to the UN peacekeeping standby force – one fifth of its 40,000 total strength.

In 2009, the PLA Navy deployed its first task force of three surface vessels to take part in the anti-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden near Somalia, and has maintained its presence in the region since then. However, it has been limited to play a bigger role due to a lack of foothold in the region – Chinese warships could only be resupplied in civilian ports in countries nearby.

On April 8, 2016 China’s Ministry of National Defence (MND) confirmed that construction of a naval logistics support facility had begun at Djibouti – a small country that is strategically located on the Horn of Africa. Other countries including the U.S. and Japan had already established military bases in the country. It was reported that the deal between the two countries allowed Chinese military presence in the country until 2026, with a contingent of up to 10,000 military personnel.

According to the Chinese state media, the naval base in Djibouti will be used to support PLA Navy operations in West Asia and Africa for anti-piracy, peacekeeping, humanitarian aids, evacuation of Chinese citizens, and military co-operations with foreign countries.

The production variant of the CASC CH-5 (Cai Hong-5, or Rainbow 5) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) made its maiden flight successfully on 14 July from an undisclosed airfield in Hebei Province, marking the final major milestone in its development before the batch production commences.

Developed by China Academy of Aerospace Aerodynamics (CAAA, a.k.a. 11th Academy) of the China Aerospace Science & Technology Corporation (CASC) consortium, the CH-5 is a successor to the CH-4, which was introduced in 2011 and has been sold to a number of international customers including Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Iraq.

First unveiled to the public during the 11th China International Aviation & Aerospace Exhibition in Zhuhai last year, the CH-5 is the largest and most capable member of CASC/CAAA’s Cai Hong (CH) series UAV. The UAV has been compared with the U.S. General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper, with a similar hunter-killer capability and long-endurance performance.

The CH-5 has a length of 11 m and wingspan of 21 m, and a maximum take-off weight of 3,300 kg. Powered by a 330 hp heavy-fuel engine (HFE), the UAV can carry up to 1,000 kg of weapon load, with a maximum range of 10,000 km, a service ceiling of 7,600 m, and a maximum flight endurance of 60 hours. When carrying eight AR-1 air-to-surface missiles, the UAV can remain in flight for up to 30 hours. Alternatively, it can carry up to 16 air-to-surface missiles or precision-guided munitions under its six under-wing payload stations.

The manufacturer of the CH-5 particularly highlighted the UAV’s combined hunter-killer capability, which allows the UAV to seek and identify its targets as well as launching an attack. To achieve this, the UAV can be fitted with a range of surveillance/reconnaissance packages including high-definition electro-optical camera, high-definition imagery camera, hyperspectral imaging camera, and synthetic aperture radar (SAR). As a result, the UAV is capable of identifying and engaging with a surface/sea target from 2,000 m distance.

According to the CH-5’s chief designer Shi Wen, the production variant CH-5 features a number of improvements over the prototype displayed at the Zhuhai Air Show last year. He expected further flight testing to be carried out and some minor modifications to be made according at the customers’ requests, before the batch production can commence. However, he did not disclose whether any buyer has already been secured.

The CH-5 will form the high-end member of CASC/CAAA’s CH family of UAVs, which also includes the medium-end CH-4 and low-end CH-3 to meet different requirements from the customers. China has so far achieved some degree of success in the international UAV market, particularly with the countries that are keen to acquire such a capability but unable to obtain a similar system from the United States.