Type 51C Luzhou / Luhai II AAW DDG - Modernization
The types of destroyers that entered service at the beginning of this century are basically the products of the development of the navy small step. Each model is basically built with one or two ships, each with its own characteristics. The same is true for the 051C destroyer. In the case of a large number of destroyers constructed and using gas turbines as the power system, two 051Cs are one of the few naval vessels using steam turbines. Before the 052C destroyer and its equipped Haihongqi-9 air defense missile were not mature, the equipment The 051C destroyer of the Reeve-M system was the only ship of the People's Navy that had long-range air defense capabilities. It was also equipped with the large-scale Reeve-M system. The 051C destroyer changed the hangar to install vertical hair, and abandoned the helicopter. Capabilities, which also made the 051C destroyer in the new century a full-time air defense ship in the People's Navy.
With the modification and upgrade of the 052B destroyer and the 054 frigate, it is speculated that two 051C destroyers could be next, because the 051C destroyers have good air defense capabilities, many people have different views on the 051C modification. It is believed that the 051C destroyer can accommodate the larger RIF-M system, and the hull should have sufficient internal space, which can be upgraded to a 850 mm diameter universal vertical launch system and active phased array radar on the 052D and 055 destroyers. It is a single-sided rotating shield or a small shield on four sides, which maintains the powerful long-range air defense capability of the 051C destroyer.
Judging from the Sovremenny-class and Type 051B destroyers that have been converted and upgraded, the Navy ’s upgrade plan for the old ship is quite satisfactory and not too aggressive, so it was predicted that in the future, the 051C destroyer is likely to follow the current 051B destroyer's modification and upgrade plan, remove the RIF-M system, and the same vertical deployment system as the 051B destroyer with 32 units on the front deck can launch the Haihongqi-16 series of air defense missiles Anti-submarine missiles such as Yu-8 and anti-submarine missiles are also increased to 16 Hawk Strike-12. The rear of the ship could restore the dual hangar setting with reference to 051B. The electronic equipment is modernized and the formation command capability is retained. This could give the 051C destroyer in the future, as with 051B, more balanced air defense, anti-ship and anti-submarine capabilities.
There are mainly several considerations in the conversion options. The first point is that with the more than 20 052D destroyers and 8 055 destroyers entering service, and the existing 6 052C destroyers, the conservative estimate of the number of Aegis ships of the People's Navy in the future. It is also necessary to have more than 40 ships. The air defense burden of long-range ship formations and carrier battle groups has long been taken over by these more advanced shield ships. It is irrelevant whether the upgrade of the 051C destroyer continues to maintain a strong long-range air defense capability.
Second, in contrast to the powerful air defense capabilities of the 051C destroyer, it has weak anti-submarine capabilities. Similarly, compared to the current number of shield ships in the Navy, there are also very few destroyers with dual hangars. Except for the 10,000-ton large destroyer 055, only one 051B destroyer and two 052 destroyers have dual hangars. Since the 051C destroyer and the 051B use the same hull, they both have large hull space and nearly 7,000 tons. Displacement, so the two 051C destroyers should restore the hangar settings in the future modification and upgrade, and they are the same dual hangar settings as the 051B destroyers.
There are mainly several considerations in this conversion guess. The first point is that with the more than 20 052D destroyers and 8 055 destroyers entering service, and the existing 6 052C destroyers, the conservative estimate of the number of Aegis ships of the People's Navy in the future is over 30. By some estimates it is necessary to have more than 40 such ships. The air defense burden of long-range ship formations and carrier battle groups has long been taken over by these more advanced Aegis ships. It is irrelevant whether the upgrade of the 051C destroyer continues to maintain a strong long-range air defense capability.
Secondly, in contrast to the powerful air defense capabilities of the 051C destroyer, its weak anti-submarine capabilities. Similarly, compared to the current number of shield ships in the Navy, there are also very few destroyers with dual hangars. Except for the 10,000-ton large destroyer 055, only one 051B destroyer and two 052 destroyers have dual hangars. Since the 051C destroyer and the 051B use the same hull, they both have large hull space and nearly 7,000 tons displacement, so the two 051C destroyers should restore the hangar settings in the future modification and upgrade, and they are the same dual hangar settings as the 051B destroyers.
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