Modern destroyers are multi-role
warships. With their heavy firepower and many different weapon systems,
they can engage enemies in the air, on the surface and underwater. Today, we
rank the top 10 destroyers in the world. Number 10: Horizon Class.
Research and development of the Horizon Class began in 1993, on the basis
of a partnership between the United Kingdom, France and Italy. In 1999, the UK withdrew from
the project because it wanted a ship with more capable air defence capabilities, which was later
realised with the Type 45 destroyer. The lead ship of the Horizon Class was commissioned into
the Italian Navy in 2007, as the Andrea Doria. Eventually, both France and Italy would each
receive two vessels. Note only Italy refers to the class as destroyers. It displaces 7,700
tons. It has a length of 153 metres. It can reach a top speed of 29 knots. Around 250 crew
serve in each destroyer. The Horizon class has 48 VLS cells armed with medium-range air defence
missiles. Anti-ship armaments consist of eight high-subsonic cruise missiles, either the French
Exocet or the Italian Otomat. Also, an AW101 or NH90 chopper serve in the hangar of the destroyer,
performing an anti-submarine function primarily. Number 9: Hobart Class
In the year 2000, the Australian Defence Force begun a project to replace the three
Perth Class destroyers. In 2004, the Defence Force decided to build its future air warfare destroyers
around the US Navy’s AEGIS combat system, and they will be called the Hobart Class. The ships’ design
is based on the Spanish frigate, the Álvaro de Bazán Class. Three Hobart destroyers were built
and commissioned into the Royal Australian Navy between 2009 and 2020. The Hobart displaces 7,700
tons. It has a length of 147 metres. It can reach a top speed of over 28 knots. Total crew number is
around 200. It has 48 VLS cells armed with evolved sea sparrow missile for medium range air defence,
and the Standard Missile 2 for longer range air defence. It has 8 Harpoon cruise missiles for
anti-ship armament. The vessels use the AN/SPY-1 3D S-band radar for long-range air search. The
Hobart carries a single MH-60R Seahawk chopper. Number 8: Visakhapatnam Class
The Visakhapatnam Class is an upgrade of the Indian Navy’s Kolkata Class destroyers.
Both classes are actually very similar, with the Visakhapatnam featuring improved stealth
and automation. Four ships of the class are scheduled to be completed by the mid-2020s. The
Class displaces 7,500 tons. It has a length of 163 metres. It can reach a speed above 30 knots.
Total crew number is 300. The Visakhapatnam Class has 32 VLS cells armed with the Barak 8 extended
range air defence missiles. This can engage air targets out to 150 km. More crucially, the
ship features 16 Brahmos anti-ship cruise missiles – a long-range high supersonic weapon.
It is based on the Russian missile, the Oniks, and is one of the more powerful anti-ship
missiles in service. For long-range air search, the ship has a S-band active electronically
scanned array, or AESA for short. By the way, if you enjoyed our video
so far, please press the like button. Number 7: Type 45
In 1999, the United Kingdom withdrew from the European Horizon Class project,
in order to develop a more effective destroyer. This led to the Type 45 destroyer, also known as
the Daring Class. Compared to the Horizon Class, the Type 45 has a more capable SAMPSON
multi-function AESA radar. It has a higher resolution, the ability to track more targets,
and a longer range against low-RCS targets, compared to the passive electronically scanned
array on the Horizon class. The Type 45 has 48 VLS cells armed with medium-range air defence
missiles. For anti-surface warfare, it has 8 subsonic anti-ship missiles. The Type 45
has a large flight deck and hangar. It can service a single AW159 Wildcat or AW101
chopper. It displaces around 8,500 tons. Its length is 152 metres. It can reach
a top speed of 32 knots. 191 personnel serve on board a Type 45 destroyer. There is a
total of 6 vessels serving in the Royal Navy. Number 6: Kongo Class
The Kongo Class is the first Japanese warship to use the AEGIS Combat System,
and is the first warship outside the United States to do so. Four ships of the class were built
between 1990 and 1998. Starting from 2003, Japan has installed anti-ballistic missile defence
system on the Kongo Class. The overall design is similar to the US Arleigh Burke, but with a larger
superstructure to accommodate command equipment so that the Kongo can act as a flagship. The Kongo
has formidable firepower packed inside its 90 VLS cells. These are armed with the Evolved Sea
Sparrow medium-range SAM, the SM-2 long-range SAM, and the SM-3 anti-ballistic missile interceptor.
Like most of the Arleigh Burkes, the Kongo relies on the AN/SPY-1 S-band radar for long-range air
search. It has a large flight deck to land the SH-60K anti-submarine chopper, but no hangar
to support the chopper on a permanent basis. Number 5: Type 052D
The Type 052D was first commissioned into the Chinese Navy in 2014, and
a major enhancement over the preceding Type 052C Class. The Type 052D is described as the Chinese
AEGIS, designed primarily for area air defence. 25 vessels in the class have been completed, with
more on the way. It displaces around 7,500 tons. Its length is 157 metres for the initial
design, and 161 metres for the Type 052DL, which features an extended helipad. It can reach
a top speed of 30 knots. Around 280 personnel serve on board. It has 64 VLS cells carrying its
missile armaments, including the HQ-9B long-range air defence missile, and the YJ-18 supersonic
anti-ship missile. For long-range air search, it has the Type 346A AESA radar arrayed in four
faces, within the superstructure. The Type 346A radar is dual-band, with S and C bands, providing
flexibility for different roles inside a single system. The Type 052D operates the Z-9C and the
Ka-28 anti-submarine choppers, or the Z-20 in the case of the Type 052DL with the larger helipad.
Number 4: Atago and Maya Class The two classes are very similar. They are both
modified versions of the original Kongo class destroyers of the Japanese Maritime Self-Defence
Force. The Atago class, a pair of two ships, was built between 2004 and 2008. The biggest
improvement from the preceding Kongo class is a 4-metre extension of the hull. As a result,
the Atago incorporated an enclosed helicopter hangar – a major change from the Kongo,
which only had a helipad. The Maya class, built between 2017 and 2021, is a further
improvement. It has a bigger hull to install a hybrid electric propulsion, and it has a newer
and more capable AEGIS combat system than its predecessors. Both the Atago and Maya also have
reduced radar cross section compared to the Kongo. Number 3: Arleigh Burke Class
The Arleigh Burke is the backbone of the US Navy surface forces, and is the most
numerous destroyer class in service in the world. It is built around the AEGIS combat system and the
associated SPY-1D passive electronically scanned array radar. It is primarily an air defence
destroyer designed to defend aircraft carriers, although it has very competitive anti-surface and
anti-submarine capabilities. The first Arleigh Burke was commissioned in 1991. A total of well
over 70 ships have since been completed. They are separated into several variants, known as
flights. Flight III of the Arleigh Burke is the most advanced version – they will be gradually
commissioned into the US Navy over the next decade. Arleigh Burke flight III is 155 metres
long and displaces 9,800 tons. Total crew is over 300. It can achieve a speed of 30 knots. Unlike
the previous variants of the class, Flight III has a more advanced volume search radar, the AN/SPY-6
AESA radar. It has 96 VLS cells for carrying missiles, including the SM-6 long-range SAM,
SM-2 medium-range SAM, the evolved sea sparrow, the SM-3 anti-ballistic missile, and the tomahawk
land-attack missile. For anti-submarine warfare, it carries two MH-60 Sea-hawk helicopters, plus
on-board torpedoes and anti-submarine missiles. Number 2: Sejong the Great Class
The Sejong the Great is geared at defending the maritime areas around South Korea
and to project power further abroad. It is based on the US Navy’s Arleigh Burke Class, and built
around the AEGIS combat system and the AN/SPY-1D radar. At 170 metres in length and 11,000 tons
displacement, the Sejong the Great is one of the largest destroyers in the world. As such, some
analysts believe the class is more appropriately termed a cruiser than a destroyer. It has a
total of 128 VLS cells, including 80 of the standard Mark-41 VLS, and 48 of the specialised
Korean K-VLS. This is 32 more VLS cells than the US Arleigh Burke. The Sejong the Great uses
its Mark-41 VLS to launch air defence missiles, and the K-VLS to fire the larger land-attack
missiles and anti-submarine missiles. On top of this, there are four quadruple launchers for an
additional 16 anti-ship missiles. This is one of the most heavily armed warships in the world.
Number 1: Type 055 The Type 055 is the latest iteration of
the Chinese Navy’s air warfare destroyers. Their main mission is to serve as an air defence
command and control centre for naval taskforces, including aircraft carrier groups. At 180 metres
long and displacing approximately 13,000 tons, the Type 055 is second in size only to the Zumwalt
class DDG of the US Navy. The first unit of the Type 055 was launched in 2017 and commissioned in
2020. A total of eight ships have been launched so far, and most of them have been commissioned. The
Type 055 has 112 VLS cells, and these are actually much larger than the equivalent VLS cells on most
Western warships. They carry the HHQ-9B long air defence missiles, the YJ-18 anti-ship missiles
and the CJ-10 land-attack cruise missiles. Because the VLS are quite big, they also carry
the world’s only ship-borne anti-ship ballistic missile, the YJ-21. These armament offers a
diverse mix of firepower against different type of targets. For anti-submarine warfare,
the Type 055 carries either two of the Z-20, or the larger Z-18F anti-submarine helos.
So, there you have it – the top 10 most effective destroyers in the world. Do you agree with this
ranking? Let me know in the comments below.
