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_20150825_2.jpg) Shenyang enteringVladivostok on 25 August 2015 | |
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Builders | Dalian Shipbuilding Industry Company |
| Operators |  People's Liberation Army NavySurface Force |
| Preceded by | Type 052B destroyer |
| Succeeded by | Type 052C destroyer |
| Built | 2003–2007 |
| In service | 2006–present |
| Planned | 2 |
| Completed | 2 |
| Active | 2 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Guided-missile destroyer |
| Displacement | 7,100 tons |
| Length | 155 m (508 ft 6 in) |
| Beam | 17.1 m (56 ft 1 in) |
| Draught | 6 m (19 ft 8 in) |
| Propulsion | 2 indigenous steam turbines |
| Speed | 30 knots |
| Sensors & processing systems |
|
| Armament |
|
| Aircraft carried | Kamov Ka-28 Helix-size helicopter |
| Aviation facilities | No hangar |
TheType 051C destroyer (NATO reporting name:Luzhou class) is a long-range air-defence guided-missile destroyer built byChina in its ongoing effort to create a true blue water navy. The ship uses the hull design of the olderType 051B (Luhai class), but is equipped with the advanced RussianS-300FM air defence missiles systems. Currently, two ships of this class have been launched and deployed byPeople's Liberation Army NavyNorth Sea Fleet.
The construction of the Type 051C destroyer at China's northernDalian Shipyard was revealed in 2004 with the help of Internet photographs. A disadvantage of the Type 051C is that it lacks the stealthier radar cross-section found on the newer Chinese warships.
The ship also possesses less advanced steam turbine propulsion compared to gas turbine propulsion present in all newer Chinese destroyers. The Type 051C is a stop gap measure to provide long range area air defense to the fleet by mating the mature hull design with proven SAM system that is more capable than that of theType 052B destroyer. Production of this class stopped once more advancedType 052C destroyers became available.
The Type 051C uses the advanced RussianS-300FM air defence missile system withtrack-via-missile homing guided by a single Tombstone radar. The missile has a maximum range of 150 km and an operating altitude of 10 m - 27 km.
The anti-ship abilities possessed by the Type 051C includes eight indigenousYJ-83 (C-803)anti-ship missiles. This anti-ship missile has a range of over 150 kilometres (93 mi) and approaches its target in sea skimming mode at a speed ofMach 1.5. As a secondary role, the missile can also be used against land targets.
The ship uses twoType 730 CIWS guns for air defence. The Type 730 is aCIWS that is also installed on theType 052B andType 052C/052D destroyers, and theType 054A frigates. The ship also has 100 mm gun based on aFrench design for use against surface targets.
The S-300FM 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, this means that there is a blind gap on Type 051C in full SAM cover in the forward quadrant, resulting in a major tactical restriction.
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 120 nmi to aircraft and 20 nmi to sea-skimming missile.
There is also a large round radome mounted at the top of the front mast, housing aType 364 (SR64) 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 indigenousType 347G (EFR-1) I-band radars integrated with the Type 730 CIWS to provide fire-control.
The ships are powered by two indigenous steam turbine engines giving them a top speed of 30 knots.
| Number | Pennant number | Name | Namesake | Builder | Launched | Commissioned | Fleet | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 115 | 沈阳 /Shenyang | City ofShenyang, provincial capital ofLiaoning | Dalian | 28 December 2004 | 1 January 2006 | North Sea Fleet | Active |
| 2 | 116 | 石家庄 /Shijiazhuang | City ofShijiazhuang, provincial capital ofHebei | 26 July 2005 | 22 January 2007 | Active |
