Beijing (TDI): The Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy has officially commissioned a new Type 052D guided-missile destroyer, featuring upgraded radar, weapon systems, and network architecture designed to enhance air defense, sea strike, and task force command capabilities, according to state media reports.
The new destroyer, named Loudi and bearing hull number 176, was officially put into service. China’s first Type 052D destroyer, the Kunming, entered service on March 21, 2014. Since then, multiple vessels of this class have been added to the fleet, each incorporating incremental modifications and improvements.
According to official coverage, the latest Type 052D vessels, including the Loudi, feature a new radar system installed on the main mast.
Military analyst Fu Qianshao said that the radar is likely a dual-face rotating active electronically scanned array (AESA), offering significant performance enhancements compared with the earlier mast-mounted systems, according to Global Times.
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Crew member Zhang Shengwei, speaking to CCTV, emphasized that the new destroyer adopts advanced systems and architecture, providing stronger combat capabilities in air defense, offensive sea operations, and fleet command.
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“The Loudi is capable of long-range strikes against adversaries while also providing defensive protection for allied vessels,” Zhang said, highlighting the ship’s versatility in modern naval operations.
