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China May Have Started Construction of Next Generation Destroyer Type 055 for the PLAN

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Focus - PLAN Type 055 Destroyer
 
 
 
China May Have Started Construction of Next Generation Destroyer Type 055 for the PLAN
 
A picture has just emerged on the Chinese internet showing that construction of the first Type 055 destroyer may have started. The Type 055 guided missile destroyer is the next generation destroyer designed for the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN or Chinese Navy).
     
A picture has just emerged on the Chinese internet showing that construction of the first Type 055 destroyer may have started. The Type 055 guided missile destroyer is the next generation destroyer designed for the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN or Chinese Navy).
The picture that just appeared on the chinese internet. The text reads: "Commencement Ceremony for the Construction of 055 destroyer number 1"
     
According to Chinese sources, the picture was taken last week at the Changxing Jiangnan shipyard (member of CSSC - China State Shipbuilding Corporation) near Shanghai. It shows a sign with the mention "Commencement Ceremony for the Construction of 055 destroyer number 1". Such ceremonies are common practice in Chinese naval shipyards and should the picture be authentic, this would indicate that construction of the first Type 055 destroyer has indeed just started with the first cut of steel ceremony.

According to Chinese media, the Chinese government awarded the contract for construction of the first ship of the class to Changxing Jiangnan shipyard in August. According to the same sources, the second Type 055 destroyer will be built at the Dalian naval shipyard (Dalian Shipbuilding Industry Company member of CSIC - China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation).
     
The Type 055 Shore Integration Facility (SIF) nearing completion (picture from September 2014).
The Type 055 Shore Integration Facility (SIF) nearing completion (picture from September 2014).
     
The Type 055 SIF during construction next to the Liaoning aircraft carrier SIF built in 2009.
The Type 055 SIF during construction next to the Liaoning aircraft carrier SIF built in 2009.
     
The two SIFs (center) are located at the Ship Design and Research Center (701 Institute) of CSIC at the Wuhan University of Science and Technology (right). Note the integrated mast on the left hand side.
The two SIFs (center) are located at the Ship Design and Research Center (701 Institute) of CSIC at the Wuhan University of Science and Technology (right). Note the integrated mast on the left hand side.
     
Construction of a Type 055 Shore Integration Facility (SIF) started in early 2014 at the Ship Design and Research Center (701 Institute) of CSIC at the Wuhan University of Science and Technology. A model of the PLAN's Aircraft Carrier was built at the same location in 2009. Based on pictures of the Type 055 SIF taken in September 2014, construction was almost over. This could indicate that land based testing has already started and it would then make sense timing wise to start construction of the first unit (it will likely take over one year to launch the first hull in the water).
     
Type 055 SIF during construction (pictures from May 2014): It appears that APAR (Active Phased Array Radar) plannar arrays are only fitted on one side of the SIF (the one facing the water). These APAR antennas may be the Type 346A similar to those fitted on the existing Type 052D destroyers. Opening at the top of the mast are likely for ESM, ECM and an X band radar.
     
Type 055 SIF during construction (pictures from May 2014): It appears that APAR (Active Phased Array Radar) plannar arrays are only fitted on one side of the SIF (the one facing the water). These APAR antennas may be the Type 346A similar to those fitted on the existing Type 052D destroyers. Opening at the top of the mast are likely for ESM, ECM and an X band radar.
Type 055 SIF during construction (pictures from May 2014): It appears that APAR (Active Phased Array Radar) planar arrays are only fitted on one side of the SIF (the one facing the water). These APAR antennas may be the Type 346A similar to those fitted on the existing Type 052D destroyers. Opening at the top of the mast are likely for ESM, ECM and an X band radar.
     
Major navies worldwide use SIFs to test new systems and designs before testing them at sea (There are Burke and Zumwalt class SIFs in the US, FREMM SIF in France and Type 45 SIF in the UK to name a few examples): Such facilities save precious time when it comes to onboard integration resulting in a significantly shorter onboard test campaign at sea. Radars, ESM, ECM and combat management systems are typically tested at the SIF. They are also used to test the electromagnetic compatibility of each system on board (making sure that jammers do not interfere with other systems like the CIWS for example). If an issue is detected, they are used to test last minute design tweaks. Ultimately when the design is validated, SIFs are often used to train the combat information center (CIC) operators.
     
Type 052D destroyer (top) compared with the Type 055 SIF model (bottom). The HQ-10 missile launcher (RAM like) located aft was used to put both pictures at the same scale. It looks like Type 055 will be quite larger than Type 052D.
Type 052D destroyer (top) compared with the Type 055 SIF model (bottom). The HQ-10 missile launcher (RAM like) located aft was used to put both pictures at the same scale. It looks like Type 055 will be quite larger than Type 052D.
     
Based on the system models fitted on the Type 055 SIF, it seems like the new class of destroyer will be fitted with:
» 1x H/PJ-38 130mm main gun
» 1x H/PJ-14 30mm CIWS (forward)
» 1x Type 710.SJ01-24 launcher with 24x HQ10 (aft, above the helicopter hangar)

This weapons fit is close to the one found on board Type 052D destroyers (Kunming/Luyang III class) but with an overall better integration and what appears to be a sleeker design. In addition, it is important to note that the four APAR planar arrays will be fitted in a new fashion: While the four antennas are on the same level on Type 052D, Type 055 will have the two antennas at the back placed at a higher level compared to the two at the front, much like the US Navy Arleigh-Burke class. This design likely provides better coverage.
     
Non official artist impression of Type 055 (also reffered as "Fan Art" in the Chinese Internet sphere).
Non official artist impression of Type 055 (also reffered as "Fan Art" in the Chinese Internet sphere).
     
Using recent Google Earth satellite imagery, the Type 055 SIF in Wuhan measures close to 130 meters in length, with most of its bow and its helicopter deck missing. The rest is pure estimation but Type 055 may end up measuring about 190 meters in length with a close to 12,000 tons displacement.

With such a large size, Type 055 could be fitted (in addition to the above) with at least 64 Vertical Launch System (VLS) cells. Other Type 055 rumors mention an L-band radar (similar to the Smart-L radar found on Horizon and Type 45 destroyers of the French, Italian and Royal Navy) to replace the Type 517H air search radar found on board Type 052C and 052D destroyers of the PLAN. Finally, while these two destroyers are fitted with two gas turbines, it is speculated that Type 055 will be fitted with four (like on the US Arleigh Burke class destroyer) which would make sense given the expected size of the new destroyer.