Group : Destroyers
Status : Active
Also Known As : Harbin (lead ship name), Luhu (NATO codename)
Origin : China
Contractor : Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding
Initial Operational Capability (IOC) : July 1994
Total Production : 2

The People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) Type 092, Luhu NATO codename, is a multi-role destroyer capable of credible anti-surface (ASuW), anti-submarine (ASW) and anti-air (AAW) warfare. Two ships were built by Hudong Shipyards between 1991 and 1993 and commissioned with the PLAN North Sea Fleet. These ships are provided with western equipment, sensors and weapon systems such as two LM2500 gas turbines as part of CODOG propulsion system. PLAN upgraded both ships between 2003 and 2004 replacing the 100mm gun and the ship's anti-ship missiles.

The Type 052 class destroyer weapon system includes: a two-barrel 100mm gun; 32 HQ-7/Crotale surface-to-air missiles with an eight-cell launcher; 16 (4x4) YJ-83/C-803 anti-ship missiles; four 37mm AA guns; and torpedo tubes. The ship features a flight deck and hangar to support Z-9C or Ka-27 helicopters that provide ASW and ASuW capabilities. The hull design offers greater stability than previous PLAN surface combatants specially for operations in open ocean.

Group : Destroyers
Status : Active
Also Known As : Guangzhou (lead ship name), Luyang (NATO codename)
Origin : China
Contractor : Jiangnan Shipyard
Initial Operational Capability (IOC) : July 2004
Total Production : 2

The Type 052B-class destroyers were designed to serve as multi-purpose ships with the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN). Two ships were built by Jiangnan Shipyard in the early 2000s and both were commissioned in 2004. These ships feature enhanced air defense and anti-submarine capabilities. Overall, the Type 052B destroyer performance and capabilities are comparable to Russian destroyers of Project 956E. In fact, these ships feature extensively Russian-made weapons and sensors. The Type 052B ships provide PLAN with capabilities required by a blue water armada that operates far away from its homeports.

The air defense system of Type 052B destroyers builds around the Russian Yohz/Buk-M2, SA-N-12 NATO codename, missile system. Each destroyer has two missile ramps and 48 9M38 missiles. Chinese-made Type 730 guns provide close-in air defense. Four 4-cell (16 missiles) YJ-83/C-803 anti-ship missiles, torpedo tubes, anti-submarine rocket launchers and a single-barrel 100mm gun complete the weapon system. The ship's CODOG propulsion system is based on two Ukraine DA/DN80 gas turbine and two diesel engines. The Type 052B also incorporates stealthy design which translates into reduced radar cross section and infrared signatures. A flight deck and hangar at stern allow operation of a Ka-28 ASW helicopter.

Group : Destroyers
Status : Active
Also Known As : Lanzhou (lead ship name), Luyang-II (NATO codename)
Origin : China
Contractor : Jiangnan Shipyard
Initial Operational Capability (IOC) : July 18, 2004
Total Production : 6

The Type 052C is a multi-purpose destroyer based on Type 052B hull design. These ships are designed to serve as multi-purpose ships with the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN). Two ships were built by Jiangnan Shipyard in the early 2000s and were commissioned in 2004 and 2005. These are the first PLAN ships equipped with the Chinese-made HQ-9 long-range air defense missile system and Aegis SPY-1-like phased array antennas. The Type 052C represents a huge leap forward because the class has been build utilizing Chinese technology instead of Russian sensors and weaponry used extensively on the Type 052B.

The Type 052C combat system is a new development enabling network centric operations with other naval and airborne assets using satellite communications and data-links. Each ship is equipped with eight six-cell (48 missiles) Vertical Launch Systems (VLS) loaded with HQ-9 long-range surface-to-air missiles. The VLS provided to these ships are a new Chinese design and feature cold launch which means the missiles are ejected from the tube and then the rocket engine ignites at low altitude. Western VLS require sophisticated gas exhaust pipelines because the missile's rocket engine ignites inside the launch tube.

Type 052C's anti-surface armament includes two four-cell YJ-62/C-602 anti-ship missiles, a single-barrel 100mm gun, torpedo tubes and multiple launch rocket systems. Additionally, two Type 730 guns provide close-in air defense. The Type 052C leverages the stealthy design and CODOG propulsion system from its predecessor. The propulsion system consists of two Ukraine DA/DN80 gas turbine and two diesel engines. A flight deck and hangar at stern allow operation of two Ka-28 ASW helicopters.

Group : Destroyers
Status : Active
Also Known As : Kunming, Luyang III
Origin : China
Contractors : Dalian Liaonan Shipyard*, Jiangnan Shipyard
Initial Operational Capability (IOC) : March 21, 2014
Total Production : 14

The Type 052D is an air defense destroyer with multi-purpose capabilities designed and built in China for the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN). The lead ship with no number assigned (172 was the first number for this class) was first seen on October 7, 2013, after completing sea trials. Externally is similar to the US Navy's DDG 51 Burke class destroyer including advanced phased array Aegis-like radar antennas at the bow castle. The PLAN commissioned the first Type 052D destroyer in March 2014 with these ships expected to operate in standalone mode or within the battle group of Chinese aircraft carriers. So far, Type 052 series destroyers performance has fallen behind the PLAN expectations with only two-six ships of each class being commissioned. If the Type 052D is up to the PLAN requirements and expectations this destroyer could be mass produced, along with Type 054A frigates and Type 056 corvettes, and commissioned in large numbers thus becoming the backbone and spearhead of China's surface fighting ships fleet. Taipei Times claims that China intends to build as many as 10 ships of this class but other reports aim at 4-6 destroyers or even 10-15 ships. So far three ships have been built or are under construction.

Type 052D features an improved stealth design, second generation Chinese Aegis system, flight deck, hangar for at least one Ka-27 helicopter, a 130mm large caliber naval gun system at the bow, a Type 730 close-in weapon systems (CIWS) similar to Goalkeeper at the bow and Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM) at the stern. The stern castle is also equipped with four anti-submarine rocket launchers. The Vertical Launch Systems (VLS) are located at the bow (4x8) and stern (4x8) right behind the helicopter hangar and can launch either Unai/HQ-9? surface-to-air missiles (SAMs) with a range of 250 kilometers and/or anti-ship missiles (YJ-62? or YJ-18). The new VLS are larger in size than their Western counterparts and are able to fire the DH-10? long-range, land attack cruise missiles with a maximum range of 1,500 kilometers. The 'Red Flag 10' HQ-10 fast reaction surface-to-air missile is intended incoming threats at short ranges. The primary mission is area anti-air warfare (AAW) and secondary anti-surface warfare (ASuW) utilizing vertically launched YJ-18 anti-ship missiles. The supersonic YJ-18 missiles are intended to kill Western Aegis-protected fighting ships. A hull-mounted sonar, three torpedo tubes at the stern, four ASW rocket launchers and ASW helicopter are provided to carry out anti-submarine warfare (ASW) missions.

The new active phased array radar system has the ability to detect airborne targets within the atmosphere such as fixed and rotary-wing aircraft, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and missiles as well as targets outside the atmosphere such as ballistic missiles and/or hypersonic cruise missiles. The radar system is capable of detecting, tracking and identifying hundreds of air and surface targets simultaneously while working in high clutter environment. Some reports suggest that the Type 052D radar system is comparable to the US Navy's Air and Missile Defense Radar (AMDR) intended for the DDG 51 Flight III destroyers. Overall, the Type 052D class ship is intended to engage a wide range of airborne threats, ships, submarines and land targets. Besides, the 130mm naval gun can assist amphibious forces during landing operations on enemy shores.

Group : Destroyers
Status : Active
Also Known As : Luyang III MOD, Zibo
Origin : China
Contractors : Dalian Liaonan Shipyard, Jiangnan Shipyard
Initial Operational Capability (IOC) : January 12, 2020
Total Production : 28

The Type 052DL is an improved version of the Type 052 class destroyer featuring a longer hull (161 meters vs. 157 meters) that translates into a larger flight deck capable of operating the Z-20F heavyweight helicopter. Besides, the ship is equipped with a new 1-meter wavelength long-range radar at the after-mast with improved detection capabilities against stealth aircraft. The lead ship of the Type 052DL class destroyer was commissioned on January 12, 2020.