Open source intelligence and analysis
The Type 054 (Jiangkai class) multirole missile frigates were introduced by the PLA Navy in 2005. This class was primarily intended to validate the hull design of a new generation frigate, but still equipped with older weapon systems and sensors. They were succeeded by the more capable Type 054A (Jiangkai-II class).
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The Type 056 (Jiangdao class) is a class of light frigate designed for patrol, escort, and other general roles in coastal waters. Over 40 hulls in the class have been launched at four shipyards since 2012 for both domestic use and foreign customers. An improved Type 056A with enhanced anti-submarine warfare (ASW) capabilities was introduced in 2015.
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The Type 053H3 (Jiangwei-II class) is the multirole missile frigate introduced in the 1990s as a follow-on to the Type 053H2G (Jiangwei class).
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New class of multirole missile destroyer (DDG) currently under construction for the PLA Navy, referred to by the U.S. DoD as ‘Renhai’ class and classified it as a missile cruiser (CG) rather than destroyer.
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First introduced into PLA Navy service in 2014, the Type 052D (NATO code name: Luyang-III class) is the latest variant of the Type 052 destroyer family, featuring a number of changes in weapon system and sensor over the previous Type 052C (Luyang-II class). A total of 13 hulls have been launched, with 6 commissioned as of June 2017.
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Nicknamed ‘Chinese Aegis’, the Type 052C (Luyang-II class) destroyers are the first truly multirole and highly capable, modern indigenous destroyers introduced by the PLA Navy.
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The Type 052B (Luyang class) is a multirole missile destroyer built by the Shanghai-based Jiangnan Shipyard for the PLA Navy, with two hulls built.
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The Type 052 (Luhu class) is a multirole missile destroyer introduced in the early 1990s for the PLA Navy, with two hulls constructed.
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China acquired two unfinished ex-Russian Navy Project 956 Sovremenny class destroyers in 1996 and received them in 1999 and 2000. These were followed the order for two newly-built Project 956EM destroyers in 2002, which were delivered in 2005 and 2006.
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The Type 051C (Luzhou class) is an air-defence guided missile destroyer, utilising the Russian S-300FM air defence missile system controlled by the ‘Tomb Stone’ 3D phased-array radar. Only two hulls have been built to demonstrate the regional air defence capability and provide a stopgap before the similar indigenous system becomes available.
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