Type 052D-class (Luyang III)

Summary

Origin country 🇨🇳 China
Category Destroyer
SubtypeGuided-missile destroyer
ManufacturerJiangnan Shipyard
Year commissioned2014
Units 117 Xining
118 Urumqi
119 Guiyang
120 Chengdu
121 Qiqihar
122 Tangshan
123 Huainan
124 Kaifeng
131 Taiyuan
132 Suzhou
133 Baotou
134 Shaoxing
154 Xiamen
155 Nanjing
156 Zibo
157 Lishui
161 Hohhot
162 Nanning
163 Jiaozuo
164 Guilin
165 Zhanjiang
172 Kunming
173 Changsha
174 Hefei
175 Yinchuan

Operators

🇨🇳 China

Technical specifications

Displacement7500 tons
Range 4500 km at 15 knots
Width17.0 m (55.8 ft)
Length156.0 m (511.8 ft)
Air Park
  • Harbin Z-9 helicopter
  • Harbin Z-20 helicopter
Propulsion

CODOG: 2 × QC-280 gas turbines, 2 × diesels

Armament
  • 1 × 130 mm gun
  • 1 × HHQ-10 SAM-based CIWS (24-cell launcher)
  • 1 × Type 730 gun-based CIWS
  • 64 cell VLS (GJB 5860-2006 standard)
  • HHQ-9 SAM
  • YJ-18 SSM
  • CJ-10 LACM
  • CY-5 ASM
Maximum speed30 knots

Description

The Type 052D destroyer (NATO/OSD reporting name: Luyang III-class) is a class of guided-missile destroyers in the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN). It succeeded the Type 052C and preceded the Type 055. Construction began in February 2012 at the Jiangnan and Dalian shipyards. The lead vessel, Kunming (172), was launched in August 2012 and entered service in March 2014. An extended variant, unofficially designated Type 052DL, features a lengthened flight deck to accommodate the Harbin Z-20 helicopter. This variant entered service in 2020 with the commissioning of the Zibo (156).

The Type 052D is a multi-role surface combatant. It uses a canister-based universal vertical launching system (VLS) compliant with the GJB 5860-2006 standard, replacing the revolver-type VLS of previous classes. This system is capable of firing surface-to-air, anti-ship, land-attack, and anti-submarine missiles. The vessel is equipped with the Type 346A active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar and the Type 518 L-band air search radar. Due to the presence of flat-paneled AESA radars and canister-based VLS, Chinese media informally refers to the class as the "Chinese Aegis." For subsurface detection, the class utilizes both variable depth sonar (VDS) and linear towed array sonar.

Propulsion is provided by a combined diesel or gas (CODOG) system featuring two QC-280 gas turbines and two diesel engines driving two shafts. The class employs the Joint Service Integrated Datalink System (JSIDLS) and the Naval Common Tactical Data Link (NCTDL) for data exchange. Aviation facilities consist of a hangar and a landing pad, typically hosting a Harbin Z-9 or, in the stretched variant, a Harbin Z-20 helicopter.

As of August 2022, 25 vessels were active in the PLAN, with additional units under construction. The class is operated by the North Sea, East Sea, and South Sea Fleets. Individual ships are named after Chinese provincial capitals and major cities. Operational deployments include international transits and cooperative exercises. Hefei (174) visited Helsinki in 2017, and Taiyuan (131) conducted joint training with the Japanese destroyer Samidare in 2019. In 2023, Zhanjiang (165) visited Langkawi, Malaysia.

Frequently Asked Questions

What type of ship is the Type 052D-class?
The Type 052D-class is a destroyer (Guided-missile destroyer) built by China.
What is the displacement of the Type 052D-class?
The Type 052D-class has a displacement of 7,500 tons.
What is the maximum speed of the Type 052D-class?
The Type 052D-class has a maximum speed of 30 knots (55 km/h).
What is the range of the Type 052D-class?
The Type 052D-class has a range of 4,500 km (2,429 nautical miles) at 15 knots.
How many Type 052D-class ships have been built?
25 vessels of the Type 052D-class have been built.
Which countries operate the Type 052D-class?
The Type 052D-class is operated by China.
Wikipedia and other open sources. Last updated on 18 January 2026. Suggest a change