China strengthens North Fleet air defense with new Type 052DM destroyers Heze and Zhumadian.

According to information published by China3army on July 28, 2025, the Chinese Dalian Shipbuilding Industry Company has officially delivered two new Type 052DM guided-missile destroyers to the Northern Theater Command of the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN). The two vessels, Heze (pennant number 126) and Zhumadian (pennant number 127), were constructed at Dalian’s first assembly facility and entered service in July 2025. Heze was launched on March 10, 2023, and Zhumadian on August 28, 2023. They are assigned to the 10th and 1st Destroyer Detachments of the North Sea Fleet, respectively.
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The Heze (126), launched on March 10, 2023, replaces the mechanically scanned H/LJQ-364 radar with the new Type 368 dual-faced X-band active electronically scanned array radar mounted on the main mast. (Picture source: Telegram/China3army)

The Type 052D destroyer was developed as a follow-on to the Type 052C and represents a standardization effort within the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) to create a more modular and multi-role surface combatant ship equipped for air defense, anti-submarine warfare, and surface strike missions. The first unit, Kunming (172), entered service in March 2014, marking the start of large-scale production that would eventually exceed 30 hulls by mid-2025, forming the backbone of the PLAN’s destroyer fleet across all three naval theater commands. The 052D retained the general hull form of the 052C but incorporated a series of structural and systems changes, including relocating the helicopter hangar from the port side to the centerline and adding symmetrical boat bays to improve mission versatility. It was the first Chinese warship to employ a canister-based universal vertical launch system (VLS) instead of a revolver-type system, providing compatibility with multiple missile types, including surface-to-air, anti-ship, land-attack, and anti-submarine weapons. Over successive batches, incremental upgrades were added, including new radars, close-in weapon systems, and sonar packages, transforming the 052D into one of the most widely produced and operationally flexible classes in PLAN service.

The 052DG, introduced as part of the fourth production batch of the Type 052D program, incorporates structural and electronic refinements beyond earlier variants such as the stretched 052DL, but it differs from the 052DM in radar configuration. Compared to the 052DM, which is fitted with the dual-faced Type 368 X-band AESA radar on its main mast and enhanced stealth-breaking capabilities, the 052DG retains the older H/LJQ-364 radar and does not yet integrate the Type 368, unique to the DM variant. The 052DG maintains the longer flight deck of the 052DM for operating the Z-20F helicopter and incorporates a reconfigured main mast to accommodate new electronic warfare and communication antennae. While both variants share the same full-load displacement of approximately 8,000 tons and vertical launch systems, the 052DM represents a more advanced configuration in terms of radar sensitivity, anti-stealth performance, and short-range detection capabilities. The PLAN appears to be constructing both variants in parallel, likely to meet operational requirements across different fleets or task group roles.

The Type 052DM represents a continuation of the development lineage of the Type 052D-class, but with upgrades concentrated in radar architecture, electronic warfare capabilities, and overall system integration. Displacement has increased to a reported full load of 8,000 tons, compared to the earlier 7,500 tons of the stretched 052DL variant and 7,000 tons of the first two batches of the 052D. The propulsion configuration remains unchanged, using a combined diesel or gas (CODOG) setup composed of two QC-280 gas turbines and two diesel engines, enabling speeds of up to 30 knots. The operational range is estimated at 4,500 nautical miles when cruising at 15 knots. The flight deck is extended to operate the Harbin Z-20F helicopter, which is designed for anti-submarine warfare missions, significantly enhancing the ship’s rotary-wing capabilities beyond the earlier Z-9C used on prior batches.

The primary upgrades on the 052DM concern its radar and sensor systems. The ships replace the mechanically scanned H/LJQ-364 radar with the new Type 368 dual-faced X-band active electronically scanned array radar mounted on the main mast. This radar is based on gallium nitride (GaN) technology and employs a flat-panel "brick" configuration, increasing tracking fidelity and reducing blind spots, particularly at low altitudes. It offers improved detection of low observable targets, including stealth aircraft such as the F-35, sea-skimming missiles, and small drones, and provides faster reaction times through automated target classification and tracking. The Type 368 is paired with the upgraded Type 346B radar, an enhancement over the earlier 346A AESA radar, offering longer-range air search capabilities reportedly extending between 500 and 600 kilometers. The integrated suite is designed to function with PLAN's airborne early-warning aircraft and satellite surveillance systems, enabling cooperative targeting and increased situational awareness in joint task group operations.

The Zhumadian (127), launched on August 28, 2023, possesses a universal vertical launch system (VLS) consisting of 64 canister-based launch cells (32 forward and 32 aft), allowing it to use HHQ-9B long-range surface-to-air missiles, YJ-18A anti-ship cruise missiles, CY-5 ASW rockets, and CJ-10 land-attack cruise missiles. (Picture source: Telegram/China3army)

The 052DM is armed with a 130 mm H/PJ-38 naval gun and a 64-cell universal vertical launch system (VLS), distributed evenly fore and aft. The VLS is standardized under GJB 5860-2006, allowing the deployment of multiple missile types from a common launcher format. Compatible armaments include the HHQ-9B long-range surface-to-air missile, YJ-18A anti-ship cruise missile, CY-5 rocket-assisted anti-submarine torpedo, and CJ-10 land-attack cruise missile. It may also support the launch of YJ-21 ballistic anti-ship missiles. Cold- and hot-launch capability is present depending on munition type. The ship carries one HQ-10 short-range missile system in a 24-cell configuration, and one Type 1130 close-in weapon system (CIWS) with 11 barrels for high-rate fire against incoming threats. For anti-submarine warfare, the ship mounts two triple 324 mm torpedo launchers and is equipped with variable-depth and towed array sonar systems integrated into the combat suite.

Electronic warfare systems on the 052DM include a modular jamming and decoy architecture based on multi-band emitters and frequency-agile jammers. The ship’s communications infrastructure includes multiple radio frequency and satellite antenna arrays mounted across the superstructure. It features a distributed optical fiber self-healing ring network architecture that integrates very low frequency, HF, UHF, SHF, and encrypted communications with internal control management and external platform connectivity. Tactical data exchange is enabled by the Joint Service Integrated Datalink System (JSIDLS), a network standardized for all PLA services, offering features functionally comparable to the NATO Link 16 system. This allows for secure, encrypted, real-time coordination with other PLAN vessels, aircraft, and ground nodes.

The construction of Heze and Zhumadian took place at Dalian Shipbuilding’s first facility, where up to five Type 052DM destroyers were reportedly outfitted in parallel, reflecting production efficiencies. Their commissioning brings the total number of operational Type 052D-series destroyers to over 30. These two units represent hulls 28 and 29 in the class. Additional vessels in the fourth batch, including the Dazhou (135), Suzhou (132), and Lodì (176), have been commissioned or remain in trial stages, with further hulls under construction through 2026–2027. The PLAN is on track to field one of the world’s most numerous fleets of guided-missile destroyers, second only to the United States' Arleigh Burke-class in total quantity and global deployment scope, with the current production rate reaching three to four ships per year, spanning both Jiangnan and Dalian shipyards. The standard Type 052D destroyer is listed with a unit cost of approximately 3.5 billion yuan, but no specific unit cost is given in the text for the Type 052DM or other variants (such as 052DL), and no cost estimates are provided for individual upgraded batches or stretched versions.

The integration of Heze and Zhumadian into the PLAN’s North Sea Fleet enhances the air defense and multi-domain coverage in the Yellow Sea and adjacent maritime zones. Their sensor fusion, long-range missile capability, and networked data systems position them for air-defense escort, maritime interdiction, and blue-water operations, often alongside Type 055 destroyers and aircraft carriers. As part of a larger fleet architecture, the Type 052DM functions as a central layer in naval force structure, balancing between the heavier Type 055 and the lighter Type 054A frigates. By combining modularized launch architecture, long-range sensors, and modern C4I systems, the 052DM extends the PLAN’s ability to engage targets across multiple domains and at extended distances, contributing to China’s stated goals of far-sea protection and regional denial operations.