China launches Type 052DL class destroyer with the world’s largest vertical launch system for YJ-21 hypersonic anti-ship missiles
Dalian Shipbuilding Industry Company has launched another Type 052DL-class destroyer. The event took place on August 30, 2023.
The new destroyer is the penultimate of 10 Type 052DL class ships for the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy. It has a total displacement of 7,500 tons and is equipped with a 64-cell vertical launch system. It is the largest in the world and typical of Chinese warships.
The vertical launch system can launch various types of rockets. They include the YJ-21 ballistic anti-ship missile with a hypersonic maneuverable warhead. As usual, information about Chinese weapons is classified. The missile is believed to have a range of 1500 km and a speed of Mach 9 (3.1 km/s).
The 64-cell vertical launch system is also designed for YJ-18 anti-ship cruise missiles, HHQ-9 long-range anti-aircraft missiles and CJ-10 cruise missiles. Future modifications of the Type 052DL class destroyers are expected to allow the ships to be armed with HQ-26 long-range surface-to-air missile systems.
The arsenal of this class of destroyers includes a 130-mm gun, a Type 1130 close combat weapon system, torpedo tubes, and a HQ-10 short-range anti-aircraft missile system. The aircraft can be equipped with Z-9C or Ka-28 helicopters.
