 | ||
Type 815 electronic surveillance ship (see: spy ship) and its derivative Type 815G are the newest Chinese electronic surveillance ships in service (as of 2014) with the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN). A total of two ships have been confirmed, one Type 815, and the other Type 815G.
Contents
Type 815
Type 815 was formerly named as Dong-Diao (东调, meaning East Investigate) 232, but subsequently, the name was changed to North Star after new naming convention adopted by PLAN. After entering service in the latter half of 1999, the ship went through major upgrade several years later, with parabolic antennas replaced by three large radomes. In addition to collecting electronic intelligence, this class is also tasked to perform ballistic missile tracking. There is a hangar for helicopter. Specification:
Type 815G
After year 2000, an improved version appeared, designated as Type 815G, and the most obvious external visual difference between Type 815G and earlier Type 815 is that the former has a different mast somewhat similar to a pagoda shape, and the sheer line is curved at a greater angle.
Type 815A
In January 2017, an improved Type 815G entered service with Chinese navy. Designated as Type 815A, this further improved Type 815 can be visually distinguished from earlier Type 815G in the radome above the pilothouse: the radome of Type 815A is a cylinder with flat top surface, while the top of cylinder radome of earlier Type 815G has a semi-sphere.