Type 051 destroyer The Type 051 destroyer ( NATO code name " Luda " class ) missile destroyer was the first surface warfare oriented vessel ever designed and built in China , and the first Chinese ship to be fitted with an integrated combat direction system . It was usually considered to be based on the Soviet Kotlin class destroyer design though some other source saying " Neustrashimy " class destroyer , with some features from the " Kotlin " class . History . In the late 1960s , China began testing its long - range rockets for the Chinese space program , as well as the ICBM program . The People ' s Liberation Army Navy operated only four ex - Soviet " Gnevny " class destroyers ( " Anshan " class in PLAN service ) at the time , which were unsuitable for long - range ocean recovery missions . The 701 institute was instructed to develop China ' s first indigenous guided missile destroyer , modelled after the Soviet " Kotlin " class . The design was approved in 1967 , and construction of the first Type 051 " Luda " class destroyer began in 1968 . A total of 16 Type 051 destroyers were built between 1968 and 1991 . 9 remain in service today . Major refit for ships of this class began in the 1990s , replacing the old HY - 1 / HY - 2 with YJ - 83 ( C - 803 ) missile , and manual guns with automatic guns . For air - defense , an 8 - cell HQ - 7 Surface - to - air missile system is also installed with the upgrade . Ships . The general designers of Luda class destroyer were Mr . Li Fuli ( 李复礼 ) and Mr . Pan Jingfu ( 潘镜芙 ) of the 701st ( Research ) Institute of the 7th Academy . A total of 732 types of material , and 1240 kinds of equipment ( include over 110 brand new ones needed to be developed from scratch ) were tasked to over a dozen establishments under Ministry of Industry in 22 provinces and municipalities . A total of 16 ships were constructed , consisted of 7 ships of the Type 051 , 6 ships of Type 051D , and32 ships of Type 051Z . Later versions are the subsequent upgrade of earlier units . Luda I ( Type 051 / 051D / 051Z ) . This is the original configuration of the design , albeit with equipment inconsistencies among the units . Three shipyards built the original 16 vessels of this group : units # 106 - 109 / 133 / 134 / 165 / 166 in Dalian , # 131 - 132 / 110 in Shanghai ( the Zhonghua Shipyard ) , and # 160 - 164 in Guangzhou . Of these , Units Nos . 105 were converted into Luda II type , 109 and 110 were converted into Luda III type , while Unit No . 160 suffered an explosion in August , 1978 and was eventually scrapped . She is listed as decommissioned . The original Luda destroyer was equipped with 2 x triple HY - 1 or HY - 2 missile launchers , 2 x 130 mm guns , plus an assortment of manual 25 mm , 37 mm , and 57 mm AA guns . Two of the Luda I destroyers were converted into command - variant , with enlarged superstructure for air defense C3I center , ZKJ - 1 combat data system , and Type 381A Rice Shield 3 - D long - range air search radar . Type 051 . This initial batch is the first Chinese surface warship to have a bow - mounted sonar . Initial proposal of adopting Soviet Tamir - 11 ( MG - 11 , NATO reporting name Stag Hoof ) search light sonar was rejected , because it was not considered adequate enough due to its single beam search capability , which means the low speed of search cycle would easily lose targets . A more capable indigenous Chinese sonar was ordered to be developed , with Mr . Huo Guozheng ( 霍国正 ) named as the general designer . The resulting indigenous Chinese domestic sonar was SJD - 1 low frequency ( LF ) , high power , large aperture sonar with a cylindrical array ( designated as Type 601 sonar array ) , which was accepted into service after eleven major trials at the sea . Type 601 sonar array of SJD - 1 sonar has a diameter of 2 meters , height of 1 meter and weight of 4 tons , and the range is in excess of 6 nautical miles ( nm ) , more than twice the range of Soviet Tamir / MG - 11 search light sonar originally proposed . SJD - 1 sonar was jointly developed by 706th Research Institute , 726th & 461th Factories , and it is the first bow - mounted sonar adopted by Chinese navy . SJD - 1 is frequently confused with its successor SJD - 2 , more commonly referred as SJD - II , whose design started in the 1970s , but was not completed until the 1980s due to major redesign . Anti - ship missiles ( AShM ) s of Type 051 was HY - 1 . A joint team of 713th and 701st Research Institutes and the 3rd Academy of 7th Ministry was tasked to develop the ship - launched version of HY - 1 , with Mr . Xie Xianzhang ( 谢宪章 ) and Mr . Yao Yuebin ( 姚跃滨 ) as the general designers . To save space , the design team went against the common practice of separate launching and loading systems , but instead , integrated the launching and reloading systems into a single container , a first in China . This launcher / container / reloading system is designated as Type 7222 . Electromagnetic compatibility proved to be a major difficulty which caused AShM to be potentially detonated and launched , and this problem was not solved until the early 1980s . As a result , when Luda I class ships were deployed in 1982 to escort the convoy of submarine - launched ballistic missile testing , none of those ships were armed with AShM . Type 051D . Type 051D is the 2nd batch of Luda I class , with D stands for Dingxing ( 定型 ) , meaning finalized design . The primary difference between Type 051D and earlier Type 051 is in electronics . During deployment of Type 051 , it was discovered that SJD - 1 sonar cannot provide accurate locations of targets , and the error was too great to be adequate enough to provide fire solutions to on board ASW weapons . Therefore , the design of Type 051D incorporated an additional high frequency ( HF ) active attack sonar designated as SJD - N ( with Type 675 sonar transducer array ) to provide fire solutions , and this attack sonar was subsequently fitted on all Luda class ships . To save valuable space , depth charge racks on Type 051 were eliminated . Instead , the two mine rails for mine laying were modified to also function as depth charge racks . A total of 20 - 28 mines or up to 42 depth charge can be carried ( depending on types ) . To better utilize on board ASW weaponry , a specialized ASW fire control system was developed for Type 051D , designated as SIASWFCS , or Shipborne Integrated Anti - Submarine ( Warfare ) Fire Control System ( Chinese : 舰载综合反潜火控系统 Jian - zai Zong - he Fan - qian Huo - kong Xi - tong ) , the first kind in Chinese service . SIASWFCS links up on board sensors and ASW weaponry , and once top priority targets are identified , SIASWFCS would be able to simultaneously engage two targets by automatically providing fire solutions from any of the following ASW weaponry : torpedo tubes , ASW rocket launcher , ASW mortar , mine laying rails , and later , ASW missiles as well . Up to two types of ASW weapons can be simultaneously used , either against the same target , or two targets independently . SIASWFCS would become a standard equipment on all Chinese warships and later models would expand capability by increasing targets can be attacked simultaneously and types of weaponry used . Type 051Z . Type 051Z is the 3rd batch of Luda I class , with Z for Zhihui ( 指挥 ) , meaning command . Design work begun in April 1977 , and completed in September , 1978 . The primary external difference between these two ships and earlier ships is that they are equipped with the first Chinese indigenously developed passive phased array radar , Type 381 Radar . Type 051Z ships are also among the first Chinese warships to be equipped with a combat data system , which is designated as ZKJ - 1 . Developed by a joint team of 724th Research Institute ( later reorganized as Nanjing Marine Radar Research Institute 南京船舶雷达研究所 ) as the primary contractor , and 709th Research Institute as the secondary contractor , the system took 13 years to complete , because there was absolutely not any outside information that can be referenced . The general designer was Mr . Qin Xuechang ( 秦学昌 , born in 1940 in Chongming County ) , the future head of 724th Institute . Tests for subsystems of ZKJ - 1 combat data system were completed in 1978 , system test was completed the following year . Land tests against aerial targets begun in November 1979 and completed four months later , and finally in July 1980 , the system was installed on board ships and completed its final tests . The combat information center centered around ZKJ - 1 was Type 672 - II , with three electronics cabinets and six display consoles , and it is also known as Poseidon - 1 . However , due to the technological backwardness of Chinese microelectronics industry at the time , the computational power of ZKJ - 1 was not strong enough , and the speed of information processing was not fast enough for emerging threats in the 1980s . As a result , ZKJ - 1 was only installed on board one of the Type 051Z ships , No . 110 Dalian while the second ship of this class was equipped with a combat data system of British origin . The second unit of Type 051Z , No 132 Hefei , was equipped with ZKJ - 2 combat direction system , which is a very simple combat data system of British origin . This combat data system is frequently but erroneously referred by many as ZKJ - 3 , but in reality , it ZKJ - 2 instead , because ZKJ - 3 is actually the Chinese version of Italian IPN - 10 combat data system used on some of the Luda III ships . ZKJ - 2 is based on Racal Marine Radar CTC - 1629 ( CTC : Command Tactical Console ) combat direction system , which can simultaneously track 20 targets . However , UK had its own electrical / electronics standard , and ZKJ - 2 is basically the same CTC - 1629 converted to internationally accepted IEEE / ITU standard . Luda II . Two " Luda " class destroyers were modified for ASW and C3I duties . The aft 130 mm gun and AAA guns were removed , and replaced with a helicopter deck , hangar space for 2 helicopters . See this pic for example . ZKJ - 1 combat data system was upgraded by adopting new electronics , including Type 911 computer developed by 709th Research Institute , and multiple distributed and ruggeddized Type 991 microprocessors , also developed by the same institute . This upgraded ZKJ - 1 would be a standard equipment that was used to modernize other Luda ships . ZKJ - 1 was later replaced by a more advanced version of combat data system , ZKJ - 4 , a Chinese copy of Thomson - CSF TAVITAC combat data system , for the more capable C3I duties during later upgrades . Luda III ( Type 051G / 051G1 / G2 ) . Although designated as Luda III , the first batch , Type 051G , consisted of a single ship , was actually put into service before Luda II . None of the Luda III ' s are identical , each had their own subsystems , and these ships are mainly used to compare and evaluate different systems developed . Type 051G . In the early 1980s , decision was made to upgrade the obsolete ASW systems on board Luda class by introducing foreign equipment , and Italy was selected as the contractor to provide such systems . Reportedly ( yet to be confirmed ) , No . 105 was selected as a testbed for these Italian systems , including a more capable combat data system than the simple CTC - 1629 / ZKJ - 1 used on Luda I ' s . This Italian combat data system is SADOC 2 ( SADOC = systema dirizione della Operazioni di combattimento ) , which is the export version of IPN - 10 combat data system used by Italian navy , but with data links deleted . SADOC 2 combat data system was delivered to China in 1985 . Another very important piece of Italian systems introduced was the DE - 1164 integrated sonar system , which is the Italian version of Raytheon AN / SQS - 56 sonar . DE - 1164 consists of 2 subsystems using the same electrical cabinet , DE - 1160 hull - mounted sonar ( HMS , with a maximum range around 20 km ) and DE - 1163 variable depth sonar ( VDS , with a maximum range in excess of 50 km ) . DE - 1164 is the first sonar in Chinese service to have integrated the HMS & VDS . Because externally , DE - 1164 looks identical to its successor DE - 1167 , some western sources have claimed that China might have DE - 1167 sonar as well , but this does not appear to be true , because the HMS of DE - 1167 has twice the range over its predecessor , around 40 km , but Chinese sources have confirmed that HMS of Italian sonar in Chinese service only has a maximum range around 20 km , which is exactly what DE - 1164 has . Italian ILAS triple torpedo tubes were also purchased by China , in conjunction with A244 - S light weight ASW torpedoes , 40 of which were subsequently delivered to China . Trials revealed that the performance of DE - 1164 sonar was disappointing , with a huge gap between the actual performance and what was specified in documents . However , this was not due to sonar , but the ship itself . Due to the inherent flaws of an old design , the ship is not an ideal ASW platform for advanced ASW system . The steam propulsion system proved to be the major hindrance preventing DE - 1164 reaching its full potential . The noise and vibration generated by the steam boilers simply created too much interference with the sensitive sonar that it could only reach its full potential at very low speed . However , at such low speed , target would easily evade and escape Luda ' s attempt to attack . Another problem is the lack of helicopter carrying capability of Luda class , so that even when the full potential of DE - 1164 is reached , it could not be fully exploit , because the on board ASW weaponry does not have enough range to reach the edge of the envelop of the sonar performance . Lack of helicopters carrying capability meant that the ASW defense perimeter could not be extended to the maximum range of on board sonar . After nearly two years of trials , most of the Italian system on board was removed for reverse engineering , and installation on later Type 052 destroyer , with No . 105 itself would be converted to Luda II with capability to carry two helicopters soon after . Testing experience would greatly help China to develop similar domestic systems later , such as ZKJ - 3 combat data system and SJD - 7 sonar , and upgrade existing systems such as SIASWFCS . Type 051G1 . Program originally started in November 1983 , but experience gained from testing Italian equipment on board Type 051G revealed many inherent design flaws of Luda class , and efforts were made to reduce the negative impacts , causing major redesign , so the construction did not begun until 1986 . Type 051G1 consisted of a single unit , No 165 Zhanjiang , which was launched on Aug 1 , 1988 and entered service on December 30 , 1989 , in South Sea Fleet . Two parallel approaches were adopted in attempt to solve the problem of the role of an ASW platform , and one of these two approaches is to upgrade the original Chinese sonar with Italian DE - 1164 sonar technology . This resulted in a major redesign of SJD - 2 ( SJD - II ) , the successor of SJD - 1 that was almost completed , which inevitably , caused the delay of the program , but the performance of the sonar was greatly improved : SJD - 1 was replaced by SJD - II , and SJD - N was replaced by SJD - 4 , and these sonar systems allowed submarine detections up to in harsh sea states . However , Type 051G1 originally lacked VDS . Other improvements of Type 051G1 over earlier units included using HY - 1J AShM to replace HY - 1 AShM , with the latter incorporating following improvement : lower cruise altitude achieved with radio altimeter , higher accuracy and better jamming resistance achieved with mono - pulse seeker . The range also increased to 10 km to 95 km . Other weaponry improvement included using enclosed Type 76A twin 37 mm naval guns to replace the open mounted Type 76 twin 37 mm naval guns originally mounted on earlier ships . Type 76A can be used as a CIWS . An enclosed bridge of the ship is replaced the open bridges of earlier ships . Other improvements were mainly in the electronics , such as radars . Type 381 passive phased array radar on Type 051Z was added , and Type 347 fire control radar was also added to meet the need for Type 76A used in CIWS role . Chinese version of Racal RM - 1290 navigational radar replaced Type 751 navigational radar , and frequency hopping Type 352III radar replaced Type 352I radar for surface search . Also added was Type 825 electronic warfare system . A new combat data system of French origin was installed , with capability to automatically tracking 60 targets and an additional 60 more tracked manually . The exact type of this combat data system is subject to debate , some sources claim it ' s the French Thomson - CSF TAVITAC combat data system ( two systems purchased from France in 1985 and delivered sometimes later ) , while others claim it ' s the Chinese equivalent of TAVITAC , ZKJ - 4 . The overall capability of Type 051G1 improved greatly , but the advanced electronic and weaponry of western origin was not what Chinese sailors used to , and it took about four years for the crew to become fully skilled and finally in 1993 , the ship reached its full potential . Type 051G2 . Design of Type 051G2 was approved in February 1987 , and work begun in October of the same year at Dalian Shipyard , the same builder of Type 051G1 . No . 166 was completed in November 1991 and handed to Chinese navy in the same year . " Zhuhai " ( 166 ) was equipped with 4 x twin YJ - 8 ( C - 801 ) AShMs . 2 ASW mortars in stern are replaced by 2 x triple Whitehead ILAS torpedo launchers at both sides of the bridge , which can launch western torpedoes and their Chinese equivalents . The size of Type 051G2 is slightly different than all other Luda class ships , with draught increased to 4 . 66 meter , but length reduced by 4 meters to 128 . 6 meters , and the total number of crew was reduced to 280 due to automation . The new derivative of Type 347 radar , EFR - 1 Rice Lamp fire - control radar , was more capable and Type 352 radar was thus not need and hence removed . Type 517 Radar replaced Type 515 radar for long range air search . Type 344 fire - control radar is used for naval guns . Type 051G2 is used to test out the other approach to solve the problem of noise and vibration generated by steam boilers of the propulsion system interfering with sonar . No . 166 is equipped with SJD - 7 sonar . SJD - 7 is frequently but erroneously claimed by many as the Chinese version of the French Thomson - CSF DUBV - 23 / 43 HMS / VDS , but in reality , SJD - 7 is actually the Chinese version of Italian DE - 1164 sonar instead , and the Chinese version of French DUBV - 23 / 43 is actually SJD - 9 . SJD - 7 is basically a DE - 1164 incorporating measures to reduce the negative effects of vibration and noise generated by steam boiler and other old propulsion systems . The Chinese equivalent of DE - 1160 HMS portion of DE - 1164 is rumored to be ESS - 2 HMS , and DE - 1163 VDS portion of the DE - 1164 is ESS - 1 VDS towed sonar , but this is challenged by some sources which claims that ESS - 1 / 2 are the Chinese copies of French DUBV - 23 / 43 respectively . The combat data system of Type 051G2 is ZKJ - 3 ( ZKJ - III ) , which is a Chinese equivalent of Italian IPN - 10 combat data system . IPN - 10 and its export version SADOC 2 is capable of simultaneously tracking 200 targets , but such capability cannot be fully utilized in SADOC 2 due to lack of data link , because the maximum number of 200 can seldom be reached either due to the fact that there are not enough targets within the vicinity , or the on board sensors are not capable of tracking that many targets . Data link is critical in that it allows target information from other platforms to be transmitted and integrated to the combat data system , fully utilizing its potential . Furthermore , being able to receive additional information on targets detected by other platforms and integrated to one ' s own combat data system would result in extending the defense perimeter beyond the range of on board sensors , thus greatly improving situation awareness . Such advantages did not exist for SADOC 2 combat data system due to lack of data link , and China had to come up with its own data link for SADOC 2 system . The resulting domestic Chinese system is ZKJ - 3 , which is essentially a SADOC 2 with indigenous domestic Chinese data link added , along with some other improvements , thus bring ZKJ - 3 to the Chinese equivalent of the original IPN - 10 combat data system , fully utilize its potential . Designed by the 724th Research Institute , ZKJ - 3 entered service in 1988 , and experience gained had helped the development of ZKJ - 4 series combat data system , the Chinese version of French TAVITAC combat data system by bring the total number of targets that can be simultaneously and automatically tracked to two hundred . During the mid - life upgrade , " Zhuhai " ( 166 ) was upgraded with HQ - 7 SAM , 4 x YJ - 83 ( C - 802a ) SSMs . The HQ - 7 SAM system is reported to be equipped with " semi - automatic reloader " system with 16 spare missiles . The same system is also used on the Type 052 destroyer , bringing the total number of air - defense missiles to 24 : 8 ( ready to fire ) plus 16 ( stored ) . Luda IV ( Type 051DT ) . The PLAN has performed mid - life upgrades on several of its " Luda " class destroyers . Some ships have been upgraded with a new ZKJ - 4A - 3 combat data system ( C3I ) , HQ - 7 SAM , manual AA guns replaced by Type 76A dual - 37 mm automatic AA guns , and HY - 1 / HY - 2 missiles replaced by 16 YJ - 83 ( C - 802a ) anti - ship missiles , with two of the launchers can also be used for CY series ASW missiles . The upgraded ships are sometimes referred to as the Type 051DT . At least 2 ships ( 109 & 110 ) are reported to have been upgraded to the Type 051DT standard , with more expected to follow . Luda S ( Type 051S ) . Proposed variant , equipped with Sea Dart missile , but cancelled for lack of funds and other factors . Type 051DT ( mid - life upgrade ) Specs . For comparison , please see this pic of Luda prior to modernization , and this pic of Luda with modernization .