The Type 052C appears to share the same basic hull design as the Type 052B destroyer, which in turn is based on the Type 051B destroyer. Stealth features are incorporated.[1]

The Type 052C uses predominantly Chinese systems derived from earlier foreign technology; the preceding Type 052 and Type 052B destroyers used a mixture of Russian and Chinese systems.[7]

Missiles

The Type 052C carries 48 HHQ-9 naval surface-to-air missiles (SAM),[1] each with a range of 55 hải lý (102 km; 63 mi).[8] The SAMs are cold launched[9] from eight revolver-type vertical launchers, with six missiles per launcher.[6]

Eight YJ-62 anti-ship missiles are carried in two quad-canister launchers just forward of the hangar.[1] Each missile has a range of 150 hải lý (280 km; 170 mi).[8]

Guns

The main gun is a 100 mm (4 in) PJ-87. The gun suffered from jamming and may have influenced the decision to adopt a different weapon for the Type 052D destroyer.[2][10] The weapon has a rate of fire of 25 rounds per minute.[1]

Close-in defence is provided by two seven-barrel 30 mm (1,2 in) Type 730 CIWS, one mounted forward of the bridge and one atop the hangar. Each gun has a maximum rate of fire of 4200 rounds per minute.[1]

Anti-submarine systems

Two triple 324 mm (13 in) torpedo tubes are carried; these are copies or derivatives of the Whitehead Alenia Sistemi Subacquei B515/ILAS-3.[1][11] This launcher may fire the Yu-7 ASW torpedo.[11]

Radar

The Type 052C is the first PLAN warship to mount[2] the G-band[1] Type 346 AESA radar.[4] The four phased array antennas are mounted on the taller forward superstructure. The Type 346 is used for air search, and provides fire control for the HHQ-9.[1] The combination of AESA radar and VLS SAMs produces a marked increase in anti-aircraft firepower over previous Chinese warships.[4]

Aircraft

A Kamov Ka-28 or Harbin Z-9 helicopter may operate from the rear hangar and flight deck.[3] The Ka-28 is equipped with a search radar and dipping sonar and can also employ sonobuoys, torpedoes, depth charges, or mines.[12] The Z-9 is a variant of the Airbus Helicopters AS365 Dauphin. The naval variant of the Z-9, the Z-9C, is equipped with the KLC-1 search radar, dipping sonar, and is typically armed with a single, lightweight torpedo.[13] Either helicopter significantly improves the anti-submarine capabilities of the Type 052C.

Propulsion

The Type 052C propulsion is in the combined diesel or gas (CODOG) arrangement, with two Ukrainian DA80 gas turbines and two[1] MTU 20V 956TB92 diesel engines.[2]

The DA80s had blade problems and may have contributed to the last two Type 052Cs sitting pierside at the shipyard for two years without being accepted by the PLAN.[2]

The MTU 20V 956TB92 engines were license-produced by Shaanxi Diesel Engine Works.[2]