Chinese Type 051 Destroyer Country: China Type: Guided Missile Destroyer Service: 1971 - 2008 Ships in class: 17

The Chinese Type 051 destroyer (NATO: Luda class) missile destroyer was the first surface warfare oriented vessel ever designed and built in China, and the first warship in service with the People's Liberation Army Navy to be fitted with an integrated combat direction system. It was based on the Soviet Neustrashimy class destroyer design, with some design influences from the Kotlin class destroyer design. A total of 17 Type 051 destroyers were built between 1968 and 1991. Fifteen remain in service with the Chinese Navy today.

The original Luda destroyer was equipped with two triple HY-1 or HY-2 missile launchers, two 130 mm guns, plus an assortment of manual 25 mm, 37 mm, and 57 mm AA guns. Two of the Luda I destroyers were converted into command-variant, with enlarged superstructure for air defense C3I center, ZKJ-1 combat data system, and Type 381A Rice Shield 3-D long-range air search radar. Two Luda class destroyers were modified for ASW and C3I duties (Luda II class). Impoved sonar and new weapon systems were incorporated into the final two Luda destroyers built (Luda III).

A major refit for ships of this class began in 1990s, replacing the old HY-1/HY-2 with YJ-83 (C-803) missile and manual guns with automatic guns. For air-defense, an 8-cell HQ-7 Surface-to-air missile system is also installed with the upgrade.