Type 346 radar

The Type 346 radar (NATO/OSD Dragon Eye) is a naval S band^[1] 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^[2] with the Type 052C destroyer,^[3] the first Chinese warships with area air defence capability.^[4]

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]

Development

The Type 346 was developed by the Nanjing Research Institute of Electronics Technology^{[nb 1]} 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]

Variants

Type 346

Initial version. The arrays are covered by convex panels. It entered service with the Type 052C destroyer.^[3]

Type 346A

This version has a reported range of 400 km.^[1] and uses flat covering panels. It entered service with the Type 052D destroyer.^[3]

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 Chinese radars

Notes

1. The Nanjing Research Institute of Electronics Technology was once known as Research Institute 14. After 1992, it became the National Defence Science and Technology Key Laboratory for Antennas and Microwave Technology. It is China's leading radar research establishment.^[5]