According to a picture released on Twitter on May 1, 2020, the Chinese navy has upgraded its Type 051B Luhai-class destroyer, Shenzhen, that is now equipped with 16 container launchers able to fire YJ-12 supersonic anti-ship missile.
The Type 051B destroyer is now fitted with 16 container launchers for YJ-12 supersonic anti-ship missile. (Picture source Twitter)
The Type 051B Luhai-class is a class of destroyer built by the People's Republic of China for the Chinese Navy. It consists of only one ship, DD-167 Shenzhen that was introduced in 1999. Construction of the first Type 051B destroyer began in December 1995, but most observers were not aware of the existence of the program until early 1998 when a Japanese magazine revealed photos of the destroyer stationed at Dalian Shipyard waiting for system installation.
The first-of-class Shenzhen (167) was launched in October 1997 and began sea trial in October 1998. The destroyer was officially commissioned by the PLA Navy South Sea Fleet as its flagship in early 1999.
In November 2019, Navy Recognition has published an article about the modernization of Type 051B DD-167 Shenzhen. As part of the modernization refit, the original HHQ-7 SAM launcher on the bow deck of the Shenzhen was replaced by a 32-cell VLS for the HHQ-16 air-defense missile. The HHQ-16 is the naval variant of the land-based HQ-16 surface-to-air missile, jointly developed with Russia based on the 9M38 series of missiles.
The new picture of Type 051B released on Internet showed that the destroyer is now upgraded with 16 container launchers for YJ-12 supersonic anti-ship missile.
Shenzhen was originally armed with the YJ-83 subsonic sea-skimming anti-ship cruise missiles (ASCM). As part of the modernization refit, these appear to have been replaced by the new ramjet-powered supersonic YJ-12 ASCM, with four 2-cell launchers installed at midship. The YJ-12, also known as CM-302 in its export name, employs a ramjet engine to cruise at supersonic speed Mach 2—3 to a maximum range of 280—400 km. The missile utilizes an inertial guidance system coupled with Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) input.
Chinese Navy Type 051B destroyer (Picture source SinoDefence)
