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Naval Industry News - China
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Jiangnan Shipyard in China Launched the Twelfth Type 052D Destroyer for the PLAN
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Pictures published by spotters in China show that the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN or Chinese Navy) twelth Type 052D Destroyer (NATO reporting name Luyang III class) was launched on December 26 2016 at the Jiangnan-Changxing naval shipyard near Shanghai.
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 The Twelfth Type 052D Destroyer launched at Jiangnan-Changxing Naval Shipyard in December 2016 |
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Three Type 052D Destroyers were launched in 2015 and three were launched this year. This is the tenth vessel of the type to be launched by Jiangnan-Changxing shipyard (the twelfth unit in total). Another shipyard, Dalian Shipbuilding Industry Company, launched two destroyers of the class to date (in November 2015 and August 2016).
The first vessel of of the class, Kunming (hull number 172), was commissioned in March 2014. Changsha (hull number 173) , the second Type 052D Destroyer to join the PLAN, was launched just four months after head of the class Kunming but was commissioned much later, in August 2015. Hefei was launched at the Jiangnan-Changxing naval shipyard on July 2nd 2013 and commissioned in December 2015. The Fourth unit, Yinchuan (hull number 175) was commissioned in July this year. As we reported in July, Type 052D are now being fitted with the H/PJ-11 close-in weapon system (CIWS) instead of the smaller H/PJ-12 currently fitted on existing vessels of the class (starting with unit 10 launched from Jiangnan on July 28 earlier this year). |
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 Type 052D Destroyer Kunming (172), first ship of the class, underway |
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At least two more destroyers are under construction (one at each shipyard) meaning at least 14 Type 052D Destroyers are expected to be built for the PLAN.
The Type 052D Kunming class (Nato designation: Luyang III) is the latest generation of guided-missile destroyer (DDG) of the Chinese Navy. It is based on its predecessor, the Type 052C DDG and likely shares the same hull. However the Type 052D incorporates many improvements in terms of design as well as sensors and weapons fit. This new class of vessel is considered as the Chinese equivalent to the American AEGIS destroyers. Link to Type 052D Kunming Class Destroyer technical datasheet |
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