The United States Navy's (US) Navy-launched futuristic battleship concept,
the DDG(X), is very similar to China's Type 055 guided-missile destroyer.
Washington has also been accused of cheating on the Beijing ship concept.
America often accuses China of stealing its military hardware designs and
technology. Now, similar accusations have been leveled against America not
by Beijing but by analysts and many social media users.
H.I Sutton, a leading submarine and warship analyst, wondered: “Did the US
Navy take over the design of the Chinese Type-055 cruiser?”
This observation comes after the US Navy on January 12, 2022 revealed its
futuristic warship concept, the DDG(X), which would be capable of deploying
hypersonic missiles and laser weapons.
The EurAsian Times reported Tuesday that China is working on two more
Type-055 warships while the country's largest and most modern destroyer,
Lhasa, is conducting a series of exercises in the Yellow Sea to assess its
operational capabilities. Lhasa, the second Type-055 warship, is claimed to
be combat ready.
Social media users, most of whom appear to be Chinese, have made fun of
America's DDG(X). Twitter user Dai Weiwei commented; "The American
next-generation destroyer DDG(X) is a direct copy of China's current
Type-055 destroyer."
Photo/Twitter via The EurAsian Times Another social media user alleged: "US
Navy expressed preliminary thoughts for future destroyer DDG(X). Do you
think it looks like Chinese Type-055 destroyer? This time it's US turn to
copy Chinese designs ."
The DDG(X) design was unveiled at the Surface Navy Association's National
Seminar in Arlington, Virginia, and soon after, it was matched with Chinese
ships. The US Navy, on the other hand, has yet to make a statement about
these allegations.
This new futuristic battleship is a concept that has been in the pipeline
for some time now and was unable to come to fruition due to the money
crunch.
According to the US Naval Institute (USNI), this is the US Navy's largest
and most ambitious design for a surface warship in more than two decades.
The new ship will be equipped with a combat system adapted from the existing
Arleigh Burke Flight III class missile destroyer, which is equipped with the
SPY-6 air search radar and Baseline 10 Aegis weapon system.
The relevant program office is now working with the military sector to
refine the fundamental design upon completion of the draft Capability
Development Document. This task will be assisted by the shipbuilding
industry.
The new ships can be used as main escorts for aircraft carriers and
amphibious groups, with the Constellation class, still under development,
guided missile frigates, and littoral warships serving as reserves.
According to Defense News, the proposed destroyer will be distinguished by a
new hull design, efficient Integrated Power System, and improved durability.
The power supply will be critical in integrating the laser arsenal which
will almost certainly be mounted on top of the DDG(X).
The Type-055 destroyer has been dubbed the world's deadliest warship by
Chinese state media. It is 180 meters long and 20 meters wide. The warship's
full payload weighs about 13,000 tonnes while the US Navy's
Ticonderoga-class cruisers and Arleigh Burke Flight III class destroyers,
which are similar to these frigates, weigh about 9,800 tonnes.
Nanchang (101), China's 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 2020, the seventh ship was launched.
The Lhasa is the second stealth missile destroyer of the Type-055 class
which is now combat ready and undergoing training in the Yellow Sea. Due to
its capabilities and size, similarities are drawn between China's Type-055
and America's Ticonderoga-class warships.
The upgraded radar system works in tandem with the universal vertical launch
system (VLS), which can carry a variety of warheads, including missiles for
air defense, anti-submarine missiles, and anti-surface weapons.
