Modern destroyers are multi-role warships. With their heavy firepower
and many different weapon systems, they can engage enemies in the air,
on the surface and underwater. Today, we rank the top 10 destroyers in the world.
Number 10: Horizon Class. Research and development of
the Horizon Class began in 1993, on the basis of a partnership between the United Kingdom,
France and Italy. In 1999, the UK withdrew from the project because it wanted a ship with more
capable air defence capabilities, which was later realised with the Type 45 destroyer. The lead
ship of the Horizon Class was commissioned into the Italian Navy in 2007, as the Andrea Doria.
Eventually, both France and Italy would each receive two vessels. Note only Italy refers to
the class as destroyers. It displaces 7,700 tons. It has a length of 153 metres. It can
reach a top speed of 29 knots. Around 250 crew serve in each destroyer. The Horizon class has
48 VLS cells armed with medium-range air defence missiles. Anti-ship armaments consist of eight
high-subsonic cruise missiles, either the French Exocet or the Italian Otomat. Also, an AW101 or
NH90 chopper serve in the hangar of the destroyer, performing an anti-submarine function primarily.
Number 9: Hobart Class In the year 2000, the Australian
Defence Force begun a project to replace the three Perth Class destroyers. In 2004, the Defence Force
decided to build its future air warfare destroyers around the US Navy’s AEGIS combat system, and they
will be called the Hobart Class. The ships’ design is based on the Spanish frigate, the Álvaro de
Bazán Class. Three Hobart destroyers were built and commissioned into the Royal Australian Navy
between 2009 and 2020. The Hobart displaces 7,700 tons. It has a length of 147 metres. It can reach
a top speed of over 28 knots. Total crew number is around 200. It has 48 VLS cells armed with evolved
sea sparrow missile for medium range air defence, and the Standard Missile 2 for longer range air
defence. It has 8 Harpoon cruise missiles for anti-ship armament. The vessels use the AN/SPY-1
3D S-band radar for long-range air search. The Hobart carries a single MH-60R Seahawk chopper.
Number 8: Visakhapatnam Class The Visakhapatnam Class is an upgrade
of the Indian Navy’s Kolkata Class destroyers. Both classes are actually very similar,
with the Visakhapatnam featuring improved stealth and automation. Four ships of the class are
scheduled to be completed by the mid-2020s. The Class displaces 7,500 tons. It has a length of
163 metres. It can reach a speed above 30 knots. Total crew number is 300. The Visakhapatnam Class
has 32 VLS cells armed with the Barak 8 extended range air defence missiles. This can engage air
targets out to 150 km. More crucially, the ship features 16 Brahmos anti-ship cruise
missiles – a long-range high supersonic weapon. It is based on the Russian missile, the Oniks,
and is one of the more powerful anti-ship missiles in service. For long-range air search,
the ship has a S-band active electronically scanned array, or AESA for short.
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Number 7: Type 45 In 1999, the United Kingdom
withdrew from the European Horizon Class project, in order to develop a more effective destroyer.
This led to the Type 45 destroyer, also known as the Daring Class. Compared to the Horizon Class,
the Type 45 has a more capable SAMPSON multi-function AESA radar. It has a higher
resolution, the ability to track more targets, and a longer range against low-RCS targets,
compared to the passive electronically scanned array on the Horizon class. The Type 45 has 48
VLS cells armed with medium-range air defence missiles. For anti-surface warfare, it has
8 subsonic anti-ship missiles. The Type 45 has a large flight deck and hangar. It can
service a single AW159 Wildcat or AW101 chopper. It displaces around 8,500 tons.
Its length is 152 metres. It can reach a top speed of 32 knots. 191 personnel
serve on board a Type 45 destroyer. There is a total of 6 vessels serving in the Royal Navy.
Number 6: Kongo Class The Kongo Class is the first
Japanese warship to use the AEGIS Combat System, and is the first warship outside the United States
to do so. Four ships of the class were built between 1990 and 1998. Starting from 2003,
Japan has installed anti-ballistic missile defence system on the Kongo Class. The overall design is
similar to the US Arleigh Burke, but with a larger superstructure to accommodate command equipment so
that the Kongo can act as a flagship. The Kongo has formidable firepower packed inside its 90
VLS cells. These are armed with the Evolved Sea Sparrow medium-range SAM, the SM-2 long-range SAM,
and the SM-3 anti-ballistic missile interceptor. Like most of the Arleigh Burkes, the Kongo relies
on the AN/SPY-1 S-band radar for long-range air search. It has a large flight deck to land the
SH-60K anti-submarine chopper, but no hangar to support the chopper on a permanent basis.
Number 5: Type 052D The Type 052D was first
commissioned into the Chinese Navy in 2014, and a major enhancement over the preceding Type 052C
Class. The Type 052D is described as the Chinese AEGIS, designed primarily for area air defence.
25 vessels in the class have been completed, with more on the way. It displaces around 7,500 tons.
Its length is 157 metres for the initial design, and 161 metres for the Type 052DL,
which features an extended helipad. It can reach a top speed of 30 knots. Around 280 personnel
serve on board. It has 64 VLS cells carrying its missile armaments, including the HQ-9B long-range
air defence missile, and the YJ-18 supersonic anti-ship missile. For long-range air search,
it has the Type 346A AESA radar arrayed in four faces, within the superstructure. The Type 346A
radar is dual-band, with S and C bands, providing flexibility for different roles inside a single
system. The Type 052D operates the Z-9C and the Ka-28 anti-submarine choppers, or the Z-20 in the
case of the Type 052DL with the larger helipad. Number 4: Atago and Maya Class
The two classes are very similar. They are both modified versions of the original Kongo class
destroyers of the Japanese Maritime Self-Defence Force. The Atago class, a pair of two ships,
was built between 2004 and 2008. The biggest improvement from the preceding Kongo class is
a 4-metre extension of the hull. As a result, the Atago incorporated an enclosed helicopter
hangar – a major change from the Kongo, which only had a helipad. The Maya class,
built between 2017 and 2021, is a further improvement. It has a bigger hull to install
a hybrid electric propulsion, and it has a newer and more capable AEGIS combat system than its
predecessors. Both the Atago and Maya also have reduced radar cross section compared to the Kongo.
Number 3: Arleigh Burke Class The Arleigh Burke is the backbone
of the US Navy surface forces, and is the most numerous destroyer class in service in the world.
It is built around the AEGIS combat system and the associated SPY-1D passive electronically scanned
array radar. It is primarily an air defence destroyer designed to defend aircraft carriers,
although it has very competitive anti-surface and anti-submarine capabilities. The first Arleigh
Burke was commissioned in 1991. A total of well over 70 ships have since been completed. They
are separated into several variants, known as flights. Flight III of the Arleigh Burke is the
most advanced version – they will be gradually commissioned into the US Navy over the next
decade. Arleigh Burke flight III is 155 metres long and displaces 9,800 tons. Total crew is over
300. It can achieve a speed of 30 knots. Unlike the previous variants of the class, Flight III has
a more advanced volume search radar, the AN/SPY-6 AESA radar. It has 96 VLS cells for carrying
missiles, including the SM-6 long-range SAM, SM-2 medium-range SAM, the evolved sea sparrow,
the SM-3 anti-ballistic missile, and the tomahawk land-attack missile. For anti-submarine warfare,
it carries two MH-60 Sea-hawk helicopters, plus on-board torpedoes and anti-submarine missiles.
Number 2: Sejong the Great Class The Sejong the Great is geared at
defending the maritime areas around South Korea and to project power further abroad. It is based
on the US Navy’s Arleigh Burke Class, and built around the AEGIS combat system and the AN/SPY-1D
radar. At 170 metres in length and 11,000 tons displacement, the Sejong the Great is one of the
largest destroyers in the world. As such, some analysts believe the class is more appropriately
termed a cruiser than a destroyer. It has a total of 128 VLS cells, including 80 of the
standard Mark-41 VLS, and 48 of the specialised Korean K-VLS. This is 32 more VLS cells than
the US Arleigh Burke. The Sejong the Great uses its Mark-41 VLS to launch air defence missiles,
and the K-VLS to fire the larger land-attack missiles and anti-submarine missiles. On top
of this, there are four quadruple launchers for an additional 16 anti-ship missiles. This is one of
the most heavily armed warships in the world. Number 1: Type 055
The Type 055 is the latest iteration of the Chinese Navy’s air warfare destroyers.
Their main mission is to serve as an air defence command and control centre for naval taskforces,
including aircraft carrier groups. At 180 metres long and displacing approximately 13,000 tons,
the Type 055 is second in size only to the Zumwalt class DDG of the US Navy. The first unit of the
Type 055 was launched in 2017 and commissioned in 2020. A total of eight ships have been launched so
far, and most of them have been commissioned. The Type 055 has 112 VLS cells, and these are actually
much larger than the equivalent VLS cells on most Western warships. They carry the HHQ-9B long air
defence missiles, the YJ-18 anti-ship missiles and the CJ-10 land-attack cruise missiles.
Because the VLS are quite big, they also carry the world’s only ship-borne anti-ship ballistic
missile, the YJ-21. These armament offers a diverse mix of firepower against different
type of targets. For anti-submarine warfare, the Type 055 carries either two of the Z-20,
or the larger Z-18F anti-submarine helos. So, there you have it – the top 10 most effective
destroyers in the world. Do you agree with this ranking? Let me know in the comments below.