With its advanced missile warships, the Chinese Navy is completely powerful enough to confront the US in many regions of the world
China's Type 052B, also known as Guangzhou-class destroyer, is among the country's powerful anti-aircraft missile destroyers
The class includes 2 ships: Guangzhou (168) and Wuhan (169), both being commissioned into the People's Liberation Army Navy Surface Force in July 2004
They represent a major improvement over older generation vessels and reflects the PLAN's need for more modern destroyer designs
When completed the ship had a displacement of more than 7,000 tons, a length of 155 m, a beam of 17 m, and a draft of 6 m
The hull is based on the Type 051B destroyer with added stealth features, to further reduce radar signature from the hull and superstructure
The large smooth and angled surfaces, a common feature among the new generaton of European FFGs such as French La Fayette class
represent a considerable innovation for China
The ship's propulsion system is Combined diesel or gas, consisting of 2 x DA80 gas turbines (35.7 MW each)
and 2 x Shaanxi 12V1163-TB83 diesel engines (6.5MW each). The maximum speed achievable is 30 knots
The maximum speed achievable is 30 knots
The flight deck may handle a Harbin Z-9A or Kamov Ka-28 helicopter
The Type 052B was the first Chinese-built warship capable of area air defence
By the time of Type 052B, China had already gained tremendous experience from Russian systems and Chinese domestic systems were also ready
As a result, Type 052B is built with considerable Russian technology
including the Russian-made 9M38 Buk-M1-2 (SA-N-12 Grizzly) air defence missile system
an extremely effective air defence system with a range of 38 km
The primary mission of Type 052B is providing area air defense for the fleet, so anti-shipping mission is secondary
which is handled by 4 quad YJ-83 Anti-Ship Cruise Missile launchers located amidships
For guns she has a 100mm cannon in 'A' position and this was also the first PLAN vessel to be equipped with a Close-In Weapons System
For sub-surface threats, she is armed with 2 triple 324mm Yu-7 Anti-Submarine torpedo tubes
and two Type 75 twelve-barrel 240mm antisubmarine rocket launchers
The Type 052B is equipped with four 18-barrel Type 724 chaff launchers for part of its self-defense suite
The Type 052B uses a Fregat-MAE-5 3D search radar, mounted at the top of the forward mast
Four MR90 Front-Dome radars provide fire control for the SA-N-12 missiles
A Type 344 fire control radar controls the main gun
A Bandstand radar provides fire control for the YJ-83 subsonic anti-ship cruise missile
The modern capabilities of this vessel demonstrate the Chinese desire to build up their blue-water navy and ability to project force into deeper waters
This shows a strong internationally influencing naval force is being developed and will be a force to contend with in the future