Type 346 radar

Type 346

The Type 346 radar antennas with their convex covering panels on the superstructure of a Type 052C destroyer.
Country of origin	China
Type	Air search
Frequency	S band
Range	400 km (Type 346A) [1]

The Type 346 radar (NATO/OSD: Dragon Eye) is a naval C/S band ^[2] active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar developed in the People's Republic of China by the Nanjing Research Institute of Electronics Technology. It has been an integral component of Chinese naval air defense systems since entering service in 2004 ^[3] with the Type 052C destroyer, ^[4] the first Chinese warships with area air defence capability. ^[5]

Development

The Type 346 was developed by the Nanjing Research Institute of Electronics Technology; ^[6] it became part of China Electronics Technology Group Corporation Glarun Group ^[7] which continues to manufacture the radar. ^[2] Further development may have been assisted by the examination of foreign technology; the Type 051C destroyers used 30N6EI Tombstone phased-array Flap Lid antennae from Russia, and in 2004 a prototype C band active phased-array radar and its design package were purchased from the Kvant Design Bureau of Ukraine. ^[6] It is manufactured by China Electronics Technology Group Corporation. ^[2]

Variants

Type 346

Initial version. The arrays are covered by convex panels. It entered service with the Type 052C destroyer. ^[4]

Type 346A

This version has a reported range of 400 km. ^[1] and is covered by flat panels because of an improved liquid-cooling system. ^[2] It entered service with the Type 052D destroyer. ^[4]

Type 346B

This version uses panels that are 40% larger than the Type 346A for a reported 60% increase in range. It entered service with the Type 055 destroyer. ^[1]

See also

• List of radars § China

References

Citations

1. Caldwell, Freda & Goldstein 2020, p. 8.
2. Hundman 2025, p. 84.
3. Kirchberger 2015, p. 196.
4. Kirchberger 2022, p. 86.
5. Cole, Bernard D. (July 2017). "What Do China's Surface Fleet Developments Suggest about Its Maritime Strategy?". CSMI Red Book. 14. United States Naval War College: 23. ISBN   978-1-935352-45-7 . Retrieved 22 May 2019.
6. Kirchberger 2022, pp. 85–86.
7. Hundman 2025, p. 123.

Sources

• Caldwell, Daniel; Freda, Joseph; Goldstein, Lyle J. (February 2020). China's Dreadnought? The PLA Navy's Type 055 Cruiser and Its Implications for the Future Maritime Security Environment (Report). CMSI China Maritime Reports. Vol. 5. United States Naval War College . Retrieved 9 April 2020.
• Hundman, Eric (March 2025). China's Air Defense Radar Industrial Base. China Aerospace Studies Institute (Report). Retrieved 6 December 2025.
• Kirchberger, Sarah (2015). Assessing China's Naval Power: Technological Innovation, Economic Constraints, and Strategic Implications. Global Power Shift. Springer. ISBN   978-3-662-47127-2.
• Kirchberger, Sarah (2022). "Russian-Chinese Military-Technological Cooperation and the Ukrainian Factor". In Kirchberger, Sarah; Sinjen, Svenja; Wörmer, Nils (eds.). Russia-China Relations: Emerging Alliance or Eternal Rivals?. Global Power Shift. Springer. p. 75-100. ISBN   978-3-030-97012-3.