052C-type Destroyer

    The 052C-type destroyer is designated the Luyang II Class by NATO. Six vessels of the type have been built: the Lanzhou (170), Haikou (171), Changchun (150), Zhengzhou (151), Jinan (152) and Xi’an (153).

    Charged with air defense, the type was the first of its kind equipped with four-sided active phased array radars. It is also the first People’s Liberation Army Navy destroyer to use vertical launching for anti-air missiles, so it is also known as the “Chinese Aegis”.

    The body of the 052C is similar to the 052B, but because of the installation of four-sided active phased array radars, its bridge is slightly higher than that of the 052B. The 052C’s hexagonal vertical missile launch system comprises eight units, with six at the foredeck and two on the flight deck. The vertical missile launch system is armed with 48 HHQ-9 missiles. The ship is also equipped with eight longer-range YJ-62 anti-ship missiles. The bow holds a 100-mm gun. Two close-range 730 guns are installed in front of the bridge and atop the hangar. The vessel also has a triple anti-submarine torpedo launcher (caliber 324 mm).

052C-type destroyer Haikou (171)

052C-type destroyer Lanzhou (170)

Workers loading anti-air missiles