170 Lanzhou
171 Haikou
173 Trials
174 Building
175 Building
176 Building

In 2002, Shanghai-based Jiangnan Shipyard launched two type 052B (Guangzhou class) multirole missile destroyers which were much more modern and heavily armed than anything the Chinese had indegenously produced to that date. Immediately thereafter, in the same shipyards, construction began on two more destroyers and it quickly became apparent that these destroyers, although built on the same basic hull as the Type 052Bs, were not the same destroyers.

With much taller superstructure and obvious Phased Array Radar panesl on all four sides, and with vertical launch systems fore and aft, it became apparent that the PLAN was constructing two entirely new mulit-role destroyers directed principally at wide coverage anti-air defense.

The first-of-class 170 Lanzhou was launched in April 2003 and commissioned in July 2004. The second ship, 171 Haikou was launched in October 2003 and commissioned in 2005.

The new vessels were designated the Type 052C and, with few exceptions, their weapons and sensor systems are completely based on indigenous technology. The notable four-array multifunction phased array radar (PAR) appears to be similar to the U.S. AN/SPY-1 Aegis system. The destroyers are also fitted with two vertical launch systems (VLS) housing 36 cells foreward and 12 cells aft for the indigenous HQ-9 mid to long-range air defense missile. They also have two quad cannister launchers for the latest YJ-85 (C-805) anti-ship missile. Both of these missile systems had not been seen on any previous PLAN warships. The vessel is also equipped with two Type 730 30mm CIWS, six torpedo tubes, and four eighteen barrel multi rocket launchers for ASW work.

The ship’s hanger on the stern of the vessel will accommodate two all-weather Ka-28 ASW helicopters carrying torpedoes and depth charges, and capable of operating up to 200km from the ship.

In 2010, the PLAN launched another Type 52C and another is in the final stages of building. Two more are building which will make a total of six.

With the addition of these six vessels, the PLAN has positioned itself to protect its emerging blue water fleet with strong wide-air defense coverage, particularly the new Type 71 LPD vessels they are building (fourth under construction) and certainly future aircraft carriers like the former Soviet Varyag that they have launched and is in trials, and the two new carriers they are building.