Strikingly Similar! US Navy’s Next-Gen Warship A ‘Blatant Copy’ Of China’s Type-005 Destroyer – Netizens

xizhimen

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Strikingly Similar! US Navy’s Next-Gen Warship A ‘Blatant Copy’ Of China’s Type-005 Destroyer – Netizens

By Sakshi Tiwari
January 17, 2022

The US has often accused China of stealing designs and technology of its military hardware. Now, a similar charge has been leveled against America not by Beijing but by many social media users.

Speculation is rife about whether the US Navy’s recently unveiled concept of a next-generation destroyer — DDG(X)— is based on China’s Type 055 guided-missile destroyer.

H.I Sutton, a prominent submarines and sub-surface systems analyst, also wondered: “Is USN taking design leads from Chinese Type-055 cruiser?”

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China’s Type 055 destroyer

This observation came after the US Navy on January 12 revealed a concept for its futuristic warship, DDG(X), which would be capable of deploying hypersonic missiles and laser weapons.

The EurAsian Times has previously reported that China is working on two more Type-055 warships while the country’s largest and most modern destroyer, the Lhasa, conducted a series of drills in the Yellow Sea to assess its operational capabilities. Lhasa, the second Type 055 battleship, is said to be combat-ready.


Social media users, most of whom appear to be Chinese handles, have gone berserk about the American DDG(X). One Twitter handle, Dai Weiwei, posted, “America’s next-generation destroyer DDG(X) directly copies China’s current Type-055 destroyer.

Another netizen alleged, “USNavy reveals early thinking for future destroyer DDG(X). Do you think it looks like a Chinese Type 055 destroyer? This time it is US’s turn to copy Chinese designs.”


Next-Gen American Destroyer
The DDG(X) design was unveiled at the Surface Navy Association’s National Seminar in Arlington, Virginia, and was soon after, likened to the Chinese vessel. The US Navy, on the other hand, is yet to make a statement on these allegations.

The new futuristic warship is a concept that has been in the pipeline for quite some time now and couldn’t come to fruition due to a cash crunch.

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DDG(X) design (via Twitter)

According to the US Naval Institute (USNI), this is the Navy’s largest and most ambitious design for a surface warship in more than two decades.

The new ship will be outfitted with combat systems adapted from the existing Flight III Arleigh Burke-class missile destroyers, which are equipped with the SPY-6 air search radar and the Baseline 10 Aegis weapons system, according to USNI report, as previously reported by the EurAsian Times.


The program office is now working with the military sector to refine the fundamental design after completing a draft Capability Development Document. This task will be aided by the shipbuilding industry.

The new ship could be used as the primary escort for carrier and amphibious groups, with the Constellation-class — which is still under development — guided-missile frigates, and littoral warfare ships serving as backup.

According to Defense News, the proposed destroyer will be distinguished by “a new hull design, an efficient Integrated Power System, and better endurance.” The power supply will be crucial in integrating the laser armament that will almost certainly be mounted aboard the DDG (X).

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Viral Image On Twitter

China’s Type 055 Destroyer

The Type 055 Guided Missile Destroyer has been dubbed the world’s most lethal warship by Chinese state media. It is 180 meters long and 20 meters wide.

The warship’s full load displacement is around 13,000 tons while the US Navy’s Ticonderoga-class cruiser and Flight III Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, which are similar to this frigate, have a displacement of roughly 9,800 tons.

Nanchang (101), the first Type-055 ship, was launched in June 2017 and entered service in January 2020. Since then, seven more have been built in Dalian and Shanghai.

In August of 2020, the seventh ship was launched. Lhasa is the second stealth guided-missile destroyer of the Type-055 class which is now combat-ready and undergoing drills in the Yellow Sea.


Because of their capability and size, parallels are drawn between the Chinese Type 055 and the American Ticonderoga-class warships.

Upgraded radar systems work in tandem with universal vertical launch systems (VLS), which can carry a wide range of warheads, including missiles for air defense, anti-submarine, and anti-surface warfare.

The Type-055’s VLS has lesser cells than the Ticonderoga Class’s. As compared to Ticonderoga’s 122 VLS, the Type-055 possesses roughly 112 VLS. The weapon load-out, on the other hand, is very different because it must be customized to the user’s specifications.

The HQ-9 long-range surface-to-air missile, as well as the HQ-16 medium-range SAM and potentially a quad-packed DK-10As, are all aboard the Chinese ship.

The DK-10A is based on the PL-12 and would be deployed as an intermediate-range air defense missile similar to the US Navy’s RIM-162 Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile. Similarly, the Chinese Yu-8 anti-submarine missile is comparable to the US Navy’s VL-ASROC.


Chinese ships prioritize anti-surface warfare, and they use the YJ-18 supersonic anti-ship missile. The Harpoons of the Ticonderoga Class are dwarfed by these enormous, powerful missiles. The American Harpoons can only be transported in groups of eight, but the Chinese ships are said to be capable of transporting a huge number of YJ-18s.

There is an even wider difference in weapons in the anti-ballistic missile (ABM) arena. The US AEGIS ships can carry the RIM-161 SM-3 missile, which can intercept medium-range ballistic missiles. China does not have such weapon systems. Nevertheless, both the ships have distinct features to serve their respective requirements.

Whether the US actually copied the Chinese Type 055 design or the similarities are overhyped could only be clarified by the American Navy. Until that happens, the Chinese propaganda machinery will make the most of this controversy, given the tense relations between Beijing and Washington.

 

Lordimperator

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those sharp edge on the hull predate in ddg 1000 project, ever included in Zumwalt proto, while for the mast, the concept opt for separated radar emplacement like in the Tico CG, Akizuki DGG or germany F126.
 

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The shape of superstructure & radar placement on 055 (and the 052C onward) itself was copied from Arleigh Burke. The US isn't copying Chinese designs, they're just proceeding along the logical development path of their own designs.

ddg_51_flight_iii-770x410.jpg
 

RogerRanger

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I don't understand why the US hasn't just built a AAW version of the Zumwalt class. Its a huge heavy cruiser sized ship, with a very good hull design and good automation. It would need a new high radar fitted like the Type 45 has and more VLS and bunkers for missiles. However it has plenty of space for that. I don't understand the Americans they have truly great aircraft and ship designs, but use them for totally the wrong things. Like the F-22 could have totally replaced the entire F-15 fleet, but instead they scrap the problem. The LCS are a great design and ASuW platform but they have crap engines and are built out of the wrong material. So for me the Americans have scrapped their entire R&D program of the last 20 years just to return to old but modernized designs.
 

xizhimen

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US ship building industry is overall declining fast, along with designing and the size of skilled shipbuilding workforce. the future looks very bleak for US shipbuilders.
 

xizhimen

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In 10 years time, I doubt if there would be any American shipbuilders still left in the shipbuilding business.
 

Lordimperator

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Like the F-22 could have totally replaced the entire F-15 fleet, but instead they scrap the problem
They just born in the wrong time i guess, not high tension like nowadays. I mean in the 2000s vs these decades. When these times they got someone who will catch them up in the pacific.
 

RogerRanger

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US ship building industry is overall declining fast, along with designing and the size of skilled shipbuilding workforce. the future looks very bleak for US shipbuilders.

Britain used to have 6 independent ship building areas in the country, now we have 1. So if it can happen to Britain which was basically designed by god for shipbuilding, it can certainly happen to the US. The fact they are going to Europe for ship designs and that the British can make better AAW destroyers and ASW frigates and SSN's than the US just reinforces your posts here. The Chinese ships aren't as good overall, their systems aren't as good and their crews on paper class experienced. However the fact is 20 years ago the Chinese were 40 years behind where the US was, now they are 10 years behind and the only really advantage the US has is aircraft carriers, amphibious assault ships, SSN's and Replenishment ships. The Chinese already have better ASuW capabilities than the US, they have better SSK's, they have just as good escorts. So that's something which the Americans wouldn't have expected so soon, and now the Chinese are gaining on the Russians in these area's too.
 

Gary

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1. It is for illustrational purpose only
2.yeah, right, but no. Type 055 and 05 C/D take its design cue from the Arleigh burke
 

Gary

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I don't understand why the US hasn't just built a AAW version of the Zumwalt class. Its a huge heavy cruiser sized ship,

Cost: the current Burke especially the coming Flight III variant will be perfect for the AAW role. While the time used for devleopment and testing of the Z into an AAW ship just wasn't worth the try. US navy higher echelon ahs repeatedly stated that the current DDG-1000s will be modified for anti-shipping role. Replacing the 2 155mm turret in the bow with at least 12 CPS hypersonic missile.

Like the F-22 could have totally replaced the entire F-15 fleet, but instead they scrap the problem. The LCS are a great design and ASuW platform but they have crap engines and are built out of the wrong material. So for me the Americans have scrapped their entire R&D program of the last 20 years just to return to old but modernized designs.

Peace dividend and the changing White House priority post Cold War. But in case you're wondering. While two US principal ally are in the process of testing/ pre deploying their own 5th gen fighter. The US has now moved on into flying 6th gen ones.

The miniaturization and advancement of electronics makes it possible for cold war "relics' like the -15s to continue serving into the modern battlefield as the F-15s for example are a huge machine with lots of free real estates to do with. Such as fitting additional EW suite or whatever to make it relevant to the modern battlefield
 
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Xenon54

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I could show you 10 ships that look similar, its kinda like comparing shapes of modern smartphones, all have the same practical design, China was not the first to adopt this kind of design either.
 
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Azeri441

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Lol how does it even look similar? Meanwhile Chinese destroyers look like copies of Burke but yes US has to turn to you to copy lol
 

Lordimperator

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I could show you 10 ships that look similar, its kinda like comparing shapes of modern smartphones, all have the same practical design, China was not the first to adopt this kind of design either.
Stealth era make the design more simplified and common, smooth, pointy edges
 

xizhimen

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I could show you 10 ships that look similar, its kinda like comparing shapes of modern smartphones, all have the same practical design, China was not the first to adopt this kind of design either.
This is exactly the way that western media and netizens claim that new Chinese weapons are all based on theirs, you are right, even every cellphone likes like each other, but one can not claim that one is the copy of another.
When the west makes similar claims that Chinese everything is based on theirs, they feel it's just and fine, but if the same claims are made against them, they cry foul, it's this attitude that I don't agree with.
 

Gary

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New vls? Not mk57?
no, newer bigger one. MK57 is Zumwalt exclusive.

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ps: yes, most China's modern weapons are based from the west. See the latest J-20 or J-31 you could see Western fingerprint everywhere.
 

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New vls? Not mk57?

New DDG will have 2 types of VLS - Mk.41 for SAM/BMD/LACM rounds (amidships) & a new larger VLS upfront for Hypersonic weapons.

This is now more or less going to be a global trend as adoption of Scramjet weapons with large boosters happens. Legacy Universal VLS will not be able to accommodate these larger future weapons. The new LML cells may or may not be able to quad-pack/six-pack smaller missiles.

Interestingly, this is how Russian & Indian main surface combatants are today. Large VLS (UKSK/UVLM) for Ramjet weapons, small VLS (Redut/Barak) for SAMs.
 

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