"Old idea update"
Based on decades of (initially clandestine) research and trials on auxiliary ship that incorprated experimental aviation facility, Ning-Hai class cruisers are built as escort flotilla leaders, providing command and control capabilities and extending the fleet air defense umbrella via FV-8B Harrier (equipped with APQ-159, predecessor to the American and European Harrier II Plus programme) embarked onboard. The armament comprised a Mk.38 twin 5-inch guns, two Mk.13 launchers for RIM-66E Standard SM-1MR SAM, two quadruple Hsiung Feng II anti-ship missile launchers, a Mk.112 anti-submarine rocket launcher with 15 extra rounds stored in a reload house behind the 5-inch gun (reloading is manually-done, however, being modeled after the emplacement used on the old Gearing class FRAM destroyers), and two Phalanx Block 1 CIWS. The air group comprised six FV-8Bs, five S-70C(M) anti-submarine helicopters, and four locally-developed AEW version of UH-1H Huey, inspired by an ex-ARVN ELINT UH-1H that force landed on a ROCN LST sent to evacuate Chinese nationals during the closing days of the Vietnam War. The helicopters are housed in the three hangars in the superstructure, the Harriers being carried in an aft below decks hangar. Radar fit included SPS-49 long-range 2D, DA-08 medium-range 3D, two navigation/surface-search sets, and four STIR 2.4 illuminators (using the same UD-417 antenna as the American STIR, the same configuration as adopted from Cheng Kung class guided missile frigates). Despite being fitted for towed-array sonar, American refusal to provide one meant that only hull-mounted sonar is incorporated. A H-930 MCS combat data system is installed.
In early 2000s the Ning Hai class received "Wu Chin V" ("Lethality Improvement"; "IV" is skipped over because, you know, Four is Death in Chinese cultures) Program both to improve self-defense capabilities and to better inter-operate with the Chi Teh class (ex-USN Kidd class) guided missile destroyers. Both Mk.13 launchers are modified to fire SM-2MR missiles; Phalanx cannons are upgraded to Block 1B standard; the Mk.38 twin 5-inch gun is passed to coastal artillery units, the more modern Mk.45 being mounted in its place; HF-2 launchers are replaced with a new type of launchers that can take both containers for HF-2 and containers for the new HF-3 supersonic anti-ship missiles (a normal loadout includes two containers of each type per launcher); two HF-2E cruise missile launchers, each with a magazine for an extra missile, are installed on each side of the ASROC launcher; two twin launchers for quad-packed navalized TC-2 point air defense missiles (for a total of 16 missiles) are added; and DA-08 radar is replaced with a derivative of CS/MPQ-90 that is also capable of providing fire control for the TC-2 missiles (and installed in a manner that is influenced by the Australian CEAFAR). ATAS (V)2 active towed array sonar, the same one as used by the Kang Ding class frigate, is installed as well.
The surplus SM-1MR missiles are reportedly being rebuilt into surface-to-surface missiles, but the status of that program and whether it's intended against ships or ground targets are currently unknown.
The UH-1H AEW is replaced with an AEW derivative of the S-70C(M)-2 with an improved radar and tailwheel of MH-60S, and the FV-8B Harrier is upgraded with a version of GD-53 radar that is BVR-capable via TC-2 air-to-air missiles. Sometimes the recently-acquired S-70C(M)-2U, analogous to the MH-60S, would be outfitted for aerial mine-countermeasure duties and embarked in place of the usual complement of anti-submarine helicopters.
There are signs as of late suggesting that ROCN has been getting the cruisers ready for the bigger F-35B Joint Strike Fighter. So far ROCN has refused to comment about these outside observations and speculations.
