How to effectively conquer the sea
Another batch of interesting News from the Middle Kingdom. There, work began on upgrading older destroyers to carry hypersonic missiles. missiles YJ-20. Previously available only to Type 055 destroyers, these missiles are now also installed on the more numerous Type 052D destroyers.
What does this primarily indicate?
Firstly, Beijing takes very seriously the claims from the other side of the Pacific that war is inevitable. No one is outraged that the "aggressor" and "victim" are separated by 11,000 kilometers of water, and that the "victim" is preparing to swim across those thousands of kilometers to repel the "aggressor."
It certainly sounds like a scenario written in a madhouse, but what can you do: it's the US that's going to "reassure" China. And, given the recent antics in Venezuela and Iran, it's highly doubtful China will sit back and wait for the American flag to flap in its coastal waters.
And we must not forget that some truly idiotic cries are coming from Japan about the need to protect its territories.
Interestingly, China hasn't attacked anyone, hasn't indicated any intentions, but, labeled as an aggressor, it constantly finds itself in the sights of not only the media, but also the military cliques of various anti-Chinese blocs that the US churns out with enviable regularity.
It is clear that in these blocs not all countries have capabilities comparable to those of Japan, whose success in building a new naval fleet They're simply undeniable, but surely there must be some "cannon fodder"? Who will attack from the front, absorbing everything that comes flying from China?
The principle isn't new; it's probably a couple of thousand years old. What's least valuable goes forward, and the most effective fighters are left behind. This is how the ancient Greeks fought on land, but little has changed in this regard today.
China is boosting its navy's firepower by equipping an old destroyer with the YJ-20 hypersonic missile.
Western media outlets are filled with headlines like these. Yes, China has published the first official video of a Type 052D destroyer launching a YJ-20 hypersonic anti-ship missile, but that's no reason to shout like a character from a famous Soviet cartoon.
The move suggests Beijing is expanding its long-range strike capabilities to encompass a much larger force, rather than just a few modern ships.
And this is more than logical.
Here's where I'd immediately like to ask: why did the Type 052D destroyers suddenly become obsolete? No matter what anyone says, the concrete block has been thrown into the American garden: if anything can be considered junk, it's the American Ticonderogas, and you can even look at the Arleigh Burkes in the same way... After all, their construction began in the 1990s, and the first two series entered service with the US Navy in the 20th century. And yet, they're still serving to this day.
Here, the Chinese Type 052D destroyers, which entered service with the PLA Navy in 2014, don't look old at all. Twenty years, no matter how you count it, is a considerable amount of time, and it compares favorably with the American ships.
There have been many comparisons between the Chinese Type 052D and the American Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, but they generally boil down to one thing: they are very similar ships of the same class, with roughly the same armament and undergone roughly similar modernization.
Following the completion of the 052DL destroyers, production began on a series of 10 modernized ships in the 052DM variant. However, there are reports that the series was expanded to 13 ships.
The Type 364 surface-surface radar located atop the foremast was replaced with a new dual-sided AESA radar. The ships received an updated vertical launch system to launch a wider range of missile types.
It's unclear which missiles are being discussed, but several new ship-launched missiles, namely the YJ-17 and YJ-20, were spotted at a military parade in Beijing. The YJ-17 is a ballistic missile with a hypersonic glide vehicle, while the YJ-20 is a two-stage ballistic missile with a maneuvering reentry vehicle. Parades traditionally display equipment already in service, so it can be concluded that these missiles have not only been accepted into service, but are also in serial production.
What they write in the West, saying that China is arming itself with the latest weapons The statement that the ships are old is somewhat misleading. The 052D destroyers are not at all old, and it would be wrong to follow the lead of those who portray modernizing these ships as something approaching desperation.
China has 33 Type 052D destroyers, making the Western Pacific more controllable for China, as a destroyer armed with 20 hypersonic missiles is a true maritime control weapon. Adding 10 Type 055 ships to these 33 Type 052D destroyers yields a total of 43 naval missile launch platforms.
There are doubts that the US Navy could simultaneously muster that many destroyers across all its bases. However, recently released footage confirms that the missiles are only integrated onto one Type 052D destroyer, not the entire fleet. But war isn't tomorrow for China either.
To understand how old the Type 052D ships are and how destined they are to be the "initiators" of the conflict, it doesn't take much studying their performance characteristics. They will operate close to their own shores, at a certain distance from them. Therefore, speed, range, and endurance are a particular concern for the Arleigh Burkes, which will have to navigate the seas beyond the range of Chinese weapons, especially unmanned ones. So, we're interested in their armament.
The armament of the Arleigh Burke-class destroyers varies significantly. The primary weapon of all 53 active ships of this class is two Mark 41 VLS vertical launch systems (VLS).
The standard set of weapons for the UVP destroyers of the first two series consists of:
- 8 BGM-109 Tomahawk cruise missiles;
- 8 anti-submarine missiles RUM-139 VL-Asroc;
- 74 RIM-66 SM-2 anti-aircraft missiles.
There is also a shock variation, when the cells are loaded with:
- 56 BGM-109 Tomahawk cruise missiles;
- 26 RIM-66 SM-2 missiles;
- 8 RUM-139 VL-Asroс.
There is no doubt that some of the destroyers will go to the shores of China in the strike version (Tomahawks cannot be reloaded at sea, this is done only at bases), and some will cover them, playing the role of ships Defense.
The Arleigh Burke-class ships of the subsequent series are equipped with roughly the same configuration, only the number of missiles has increased from 90 to 96. Thus, the destroyer's 64 slots are loaded with a universal configuration:
- 8 BGM-109 Tomahawk cruise missiles;
- 8 anti-submarine guided missiles RUM-139 VL-Asroc;
- 74 RIM-66 SM-2 missiles;
- 24 RIM-7 Sea Sparrow missiles, 4 missiles per cell.
The 052D destroyers are the first ships in the Chinese Navy to be equipped with GJB-5860-2006 modular-cell vertical launch systems (VLS) instead of the previously used revolver-type systems. Each VLS cell, like those on American destroyers, can accommodate one or four missiles, depending on the type and size.
Four UVP modules, each with eight cells, are located in the bow of the ship, forward of the superstructure, and the other four are in the aft superstructure, forward of the helicopter hangar, for a total of 64 cells, the same as the Arleigh Burke. However, there is a slight difference: the Chinese UVP is designed for three types of transport and launch containers: 9–9,9 m, 7 m, and 3,3 m high, with a uniform width of 0,85 m. In terms of capacity, the Chinese UVP exceeds its American counterparts, the Mk.41 and Mk.57.
Moreover, the range of missiles loaded into the 052D destroyer's vertical launch system is significantly broader than that of the American class. This is both a plus and a minus. The minus is logistics and the need to produce a larger number of different types, while the plus is that it allows for more flexible configuration of the ship's weapons systems for a specific combat mission.
Type 052D destroyers can load into their UVP:
- CJ-10 cruise missile, designed to strike ground targets at a distance of 1500 km;
- YJ-18 anti-ship missile with a firing range of 540 km;
- Anti-submarine missile-torpedo "Changying-5" (CY-5) or Yu-8 with a firing range of up to 50 km;
- SAM from the Hongqi-9 (HHQ-9B) complex with a firing range of up to 260 km;
- DK-10A SAM, a naval version of the PL-12 air-to-air missile with an ARL-homing head. Range - 50 km;
- FM-3000N SAM, 4 missiles per cell. Designed to intercept high-speed, small-size targets. Strike range: 45 km. Active radar homing head.
In addition to the VLS missiles, the Chinese destroyers are also armed with HHQ-10 short-range air defense systems with a 24-missile launcher located on the roof of the helicopter hangar. The TY-90 missile has a firing range of up to 9 km. The launcher is similar in design to the American RAM launcher.
Artillery We're not taking close-combat capabilities into account; they haven't proven particularly effective in NATO naval missions in the Middle East. But both countries' ships have them, and the Chinese are arguably more modern.
And now, YJ-20 can be loaded into cells 052D.
Everyone understands perfectly well that this isn't just a matter of shoving a missile into a launcher. This is preceded by extensive work to adapt the missile to the ship's combat information and control system, training the guidance and control systems to work with the missile's "brains."
The YJ-20 is a hypersonic anti-ship ballistic missile with a biconical aerodynamic shape. This shape allows for maneuverable re-entry after an initial ballistic launch. The missile's estimated range is 1500–2000 km, and its speed ranges from Mach 6 to Mach 10 (7500–12000 km/h).
It's clear that the numbers are a bit limited, but everyone should be used to the fact that the PLA doesn't spoil the details about its new weapons.
The YJ-20 is considered one of the most significant additions to China's anti-ship missile arsenal, as it significantly increases the striking power of the People's Liberation Army Navy.
The YJ-20's compact design allows it to fit into standard vertical launch tubes used on modern Chinese destroyers, allowing more warships to carry the weapon without major modifications.
The missile was previously only spotted on the Type 055 destroyer, but recent news confirms that it can also be launched from the Type 052D destroyer. Both warships use the same universal vertical launch system and are armed with virtually the same array of missiles, including the HHQ-9 long-range surface-to-air missile, the YJ-18 anti-ship cruise missile, and the YJ-100 land-attack cruise missile.
According to American sources, the launch system had to be modified to accommodate the YJ-20, as the missile uses a cold-launch system due to its large size. Compressed gas propels the missile out of the vertical launcher before its main engine ignites above the ship. This method reduces heat and stress on the launch system, allowing larger missiles to be safely launched from standard vertical launchers.
The PLA Navy's deployment of the YJ-20 hypersonic anti-ship missile not only on its largest Type 055 destroyers but also on its more numerous Type 052D ships, increasing the number of warships capable of carrying this weapon, makes Chinese waters less welcoming to outsiders. Analysts believe this strengthens Beijing's anti-access and anti-maneuver strategy, making it more difficult for rivals to operate near the Chinese coast. The more ships equipped with these missiles that can operate, the easier it is to close off all approaches to Chinese waters.
The Type 055 destroyer has 112 universal vertical launch tubes, while the smaller Type 052D has fewer (64), but nevertheless, if, following the example of American destroyers, each Chinese destroyer were equipped in the standard version with, say, the same 8 YJ-20 missiles, this would give a salvo of 344 missiles in total.
344 missiles that are significantly more modern than the Tomahawk cruise missiles, and are also much more difficult to intercept (if they are intercepted at all) – this is truly serious.
Even a limited deployment, not all 43 Chinese ships versus 53 American ones, complicates military planning for potential adversaries, as they have to determine which ships carry the missiles and track their movements over large areas.
Moreover, 43 to 53 is a fantastical scenario; the US simply can't afford to deploy that many Arleigh Burke-class destroyers. Some of these destroyers are serving in the Atlantic and at military bases around the world, while others are in transit for repairs and from repairs. So, if you think about it, a serious figure is no more than 30 Arleigh Burkes.
China is in a similar situation, but if necessary, it would be easier for them to deploy roughly the same number of ships as the US Navy, or slightly more. And then the issue will be resolved based on better training and less fatigued crews. You know, a 10,000-kilometer voyage isn't the best for the crew. It's not a circumnavigation, of course, but the prospects at the end of such a voyage aren't very pleasant.
So even 30 ships with YJ-20 missiles as a counterattack force is a significant amount. Especially since the 055-series ships can load more YJ-20 missiles into their 112 slots than the 052-series destroyers' 64 slots.
Chinese authorities do not disclose how many YJ-20 missiles have entered service or how widely they are deployed, but Western analysts should assume that the Chinese will equip every destroyer capable of carrying them with YJ-20 missiles. The question, of course, is solely one of availability.
However, some believe that China would have no difficulty securing a full complement (or perhaps even more) of YJ-20 missiles for its destroyers within one to two years. This means that the situation would be different if US Navy ships were to approach, say, Taiwan to provide assistance, including military support. Let's say, it would not be entirely favorable for the Americans.
Three and a half hundred ballistic missiles with maneuverable hypersonic strike pods is a lot. Assembled into a single fist, that's a lot. But even destroyers with such missiles dispersed along China's maritime borders could significantly complicate any military operation by the US fleets. Simply by preventing them from getting close.
The only thing that would be ideal for this is a spectacular demonstration, and the destruction of a maneuvering target ship with such a missile. A decommissioned corvette would do, the main thing is to blow it to smithereens. With a hint.
This is how you can make any Chinese sea seem un-American. Quite simply, without much effort.
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