The Type 052D guided-missile destroyer, CNS Kunming. (Photo : PLAN)
The People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) has deployed four of the five operational Type 052D guided missile destroyers -- its most modern and also referred to as the "Chinese Aegis" -- to the South Sea Fleet responsible for the defense of the South China Sea.
Chinese military analysts said the deployment of the Type 052D (NATO code name: Luyang III-class) to the South Sea Fleet indicates the strategic priority of PLAN has shifted to the southern end of the "First Island Chain," which they identified as a "weak spot" the U.S.-Japan military alliance has been "working hard" to exploit.
They also claim the Type 052D destroyers and the older and less capable Type 052C destroyer (of which only six were built) together form a "stepped difference in combat force."
They say PLAN places great faith in the Type 052D and plans to order 18 of these destroyers. Of this total, five are in active service; four are undergoing sea trials while three are fitting out. Two more are being built.
Of those in active service, four are with the South Sea Fleet: CNS Kunming (172); CNS Changsha (173); CNS Hefei (174) and CNS Yinchuan (175).
Each of these destroyers is armed with a 64-cell vertical launching system (VLS) firing a combination of surface-to air; anti-ship; land attack cruise and anti-submarine cruise missiles. Each also mounts an H/PJ-38 130 mm dual purpose deck gun.
Chinese pundits claim the performance of the Type 052D is as good as that of the U.S. Arleigh Burke-class Flight I guided missile destroyer, which is the oldest iteration of this warship. Flight I destroyers were built from 1991 to 1997.
They also claim the Type 052D "can largely narrow the gap between Chinese combat vessels and those in developed countries, and is of great importance for building a blue-water navy."
The Type 052D was designed to escort the PLAN's aircraft carriers. PLAN only has one operational carrier, CNS Liaoning (CV-16), but expects to launch a second carrier, CNS Shandong (CV-17) as early as this year. A third carrier is building.
Each carrier strike group will be escorted by at least three Type 052D destroyers, which will be responsible for fleet air defense, as well as long-range raids and shore bombardment using their land attack cruise missiles.
