Military of China, force comment.
Military of China, force comment.

Chinese 052C and 051C air defense destroyer Unai device than the figure (Source: China Today defense)
052C-made air defense missile destroyer Unai why the device

■ Health

051C destroyer is the Navy’s North Sea Fleet, the largest tonnage of battle ships. Generally believed, 051C type the reason as a “051″ title, because it follows the form of steam turbine power.

to today’s point of view, according to the 051C destroyer weapon system configuration, it should be a common type of emphasis on air defense destroyers, but the overall layout of the electronic and radar systems with respect, but to people rush to the design, layout unreasonable impression. 051C looks like a 1980s European-style warship design and appearance, “Reeve” long-range ship-air missile vertical launching system and a large mix of radar-guided always seem incongruous.

051C of the Navy there may be a relatively mature program as a “Chinese Aegis” practical before the transition. As opposed to “Chinese Aegis” service can not be formed within a few years after the effective combat, 051C though backward, but at least you can make the Chinese Navy has an urgent need for remote area air defense capability. 051C, the large opening is made of medium-range equipped with a more mature air defense system 054A, and 052B/052C of disappeared in the records of China’s navy to HHQ-16 out, “Shiji Li”, but also precisely describes the “Reeve” as HHQ-9 mature before expediency.

■ expediency behind

“Reeve” remote Unai ship to air missile system can be said is the world’s largest surface ships Unai system. The platform deck will lead to increased focus on improving ships, warships seakeeping impact. For the “Reeve” these cold-launched missiles, the missile ships will swing out of the horizontal tube of the gesture have a negative impact. It is based on the above considerations, the designer-type bridge in front of the 051C platform deck layout only two sets of “Reeve” of Unai. And “Reeve” long-range ship-air missile guidance radar arrangement supporting also a headache. Because of its size too large, in order to ensure the ship’s seakeeping, can not be furnished to a high position, arranged in front of hangar space will become the only choice.

Unai and the arrangement of guided radar crowding out “hangar” space, making the 051C can be accommodated without a helicopter hangar, the helicopter can only be temporarily parked in the open flight deck. This needs to complete some of the helicopters to meet combat mission O51C will not be completed, which is a pity 051C.

with harsh eyes to look at 051C, it is not a perfect model of air defense destroyers, but the naval air defense destroyer in the development of China there are many uncertainties today, 051C that has flaws and can not shake it 051C is a remote area of ??China’s transition to the role of air defense ship this view.

■ Heading

052C service, the first time the Chinese navy has the performance of advanced air defense destroyers. As a result of burning diesel alternative power, two GT25000 power is limited, making the 052C of the displacement of less than 6,000 tons, carrying anti-aircraft missiles only 48, not enough to assume that China’s future aircraft carrier fleet and fleet air defense operations independently. If follow-up ship out Ranran 052C joint, 4 GT-25000 has too much power (about 130 000 hp), with funding from the practical consideration, not a last resort, should not be considered as China’s navy recently.

In this case, to the construction of steam turbine-driven transition with the “steam shield” might be a good choice. Modern level of TB-12 modified to use maximum power 50000 hp. Two steam turbine ,90000-10000 hp total power required to meet the 9000-ton air-defense destroyers. (From “global defense,” Mission Hills/text in Inner Mongolia People’s Publishing House)