China launches its 19th and 20th Type 052D destroyers

Two Type 052D destroyers during their launch in Dalian, China. Photo c/o Southfront.

Chinese media and social media reported that shipbuilder Dalian Shipbuilding Industry Company (DSIC) launched the 19th and 20th Type 052D guided missile destroyers for the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) on 10 May 2019 in their yard in Dalian, Northern China.

This is the latest addition to China’s growing naval fleet, which is growing faster than any navy in the world, with the first Type 052D entering service with the PLAN just in March 2014.

No mention was made on the names and hull numbers assigned for the new destroyers.

Aside from DSIC, other Type 052D destroyers were built in Jiangnan Shipyard in Shanghai.

The Type 052D guided missile destroyers are designed for multiple tasks including anti-air, anti-surface, and anti-submarine warfare operations. It is also designed to act as escorts for future carrier battle groups that the PLAN envisions to have in the next few years.

The ships are equipped with a 64-cell vertical launching system (VLS) capable of firing the YJ-18 anti-ship cruise missiles, HQ-9 surface-to-air missiles, CJ-10 land attack cruise missiles, and the CY-5 anti-submarine warfare rocket.

Its is also equipped with the Type 346A active electronic scanned array (AESA) radar, which is said to be China’s equivalent to the American AEGIS. It can also embark naval helicopter like the Harbin Z-20 in its hangar.



[1] South China Morning Post
[2] The Diplomat
[3] Jane’s Defence Weekly