The People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) has recently commissioned a new Type 052D guided-missile destroyer, named Loudi and bearing hull number “176”, further strengthening its surface fleet and naval power-projection capabilities. The entry into service of this new warship confirms the continuity and steady progress of the Type 052D program, which has incorporated successive technological improvements aimed at expanding the class’s air-defense and surface-attack capabilities.
According to information released by official sources, the commissioning of Loudi forms part of a process that began in 2014, when the first ship of the class, Kunming (172), officially entered service. Since then, the PLAN has commissioned a significant number of Type 052D destroyers, introducing modifications and upgrades across successive production batches. These changes reflect accumulated operational experience and ongoing technological evolution.
Enhanced air-defense and strike capabilities
The new Type 052D guided-missile destroyer reportedly features a renewed architecture, with improvements to networks, sensors, and weapon systems. These upgrades enable the ship to conduct long-range strike missions, provide protection to other units during escort operations, and perform command-and-control roles within naval formations.
In this regard, the Type 052D continues to consolidate its position as one of the PLAN’s primary multi-role surface combatants, capable of operating independently or as part of flotillas and task groups, contributing critical air-defense and anti-surface warfare capabilities.
An upgraded variant
One of the most notable aspects of the new Type 052D destroyer is the adoption of an updated radar system installed on the main mast, representing an evolution over earlier configurations of the class. Observations made during recent exercises involving these ships suggest the incorporation of a dual-face rotating Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, a solution that would significantly enhance the ship’s ability to detect, track, and engage aerial and surface targets.
This type of radar offers substantial advantages in terms of coverage, processing speed, and resistance to electronic countermeasures, reinforcing the Type 052D’s role as a key air-defense platform for protecting naval task groups. However, this technology was first observed on the new Type 054B frigates, which represent an even greater leap in capability compared to previous classes.
The commissioning of Loudi follows naval exercises in which the PLAN tested a modernized version of the Type 052D, during which changes to radar configurations were noted. In some cases, Chinese official media also reported the integration of additional radars to enhance detection and early-warning capabilities, along with updates to the vertical launch systems and flight-deck layout.
The Type 052D as the backbone of the surface fleet
Widely regarded by analysts as the backbone of China’s destroyer force, the Type 052D plays a central role in Beijing’s naval strategy. Its combination of advanced sensors, versatile armament, and command capabilities makes it a key asset for maritime control operations, power projection, and deterrence in areas of growing strategic importance, such as the South China Sea, the East China Sea, and the Western Pacific.
In terms of armament, the Type 052D carries a wide range of weapons, including YJ-100 cruise missiles with an estimated range of up to 1,000 km, and YJ-18 anti-ship cruise missiles capable of reaching speeds of Mach 3. Its air-defense network includes HQ-16, HHQ-9, HHQ-10, and DK-10A surface-to-air missile systems, all housed within the same vertical launch system cells used by cruise missiles.
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