Type 052-class (Luhu)

The Type 052, designated by NATO as the Luhu-class, is a series of two guided-missile destroyers built for the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN). The class served as an intermediate design between the Type 051 and the Type 052B. It was the first PLAN destroyer class to incorporate gas turbine propulsion and integrated combat direction systems (CDS). Two vessels were ordered in 1985, but production was delayed by export orders for Thailand. Harbin (112) was laid down in November 1990 and commissioned in July 1994, while Qingdao (113) entered service in March 1996. Development relied on subsystems from the United States and the European Union, but an arms embargo following 1989 restricted the supply of these components. This limited the class to two units and led the PRC to source later technology from Russia and Ukraine.

The Type 052 was the first PLAN warship where the CDS was designed prior to the ship itself. Harbin was completed with two General Electric LM2500 gas turbines, whereas Qingdao used two Ukrainian Zorya-Mashproekt DA80 turbines. The ships utilize either the ZKJ-6 CDS, based on Italian IPN-10 or IPN-20 architecture, or the ZKJ-5, based on the French TAVITAC system. Initial sensor configurations included Type 518 and Type 362 search radars and French DUBV-43 variable depth sonars. Foreign observations of Harbin in 1997 indicated limited damage control and crew safety features.

Between 2003 and 2005, both ships were updated with low radar profile main gun turrets. Major refits conducted between 2010 and 2011 included the replacement of gas turbines, the enclosure of open quarterdecks, and the installation of Type 517 radars and linear towed array sonars. During these refits, the original twin 37 mm guns were replaced by Type 730 CIWS units. The ships carry two Harbin Z-9C helicopters and utilize the DCN Samahe 110N helicopter landing system.

Both ships are active in the North Sea Fleet. In 2002, Qingdao completed the PLAN's first global circumnavigation, during which German technicians performed repairs on its diesel engines. Harbin was decommissioned at Qingdao on 28 August 2026 after 32 years of service; Qingdao remains in active service.