The Type 730 is an indigenous close-in weapon system (CIWS) designed to provide surface combatants with terminal defences against incoming anti-ship missiles that have penetrated other fleet defences, as well as being used against other airborne targets such as aircraft. The Type 730 CIWS is installed on the Type 052B Luyang class DDG, Type 052C Luyang-II class DDG, Type 051C Luzhou class DDG, and Type 054A Jiangkai-II class FFG. A land-based air defence system known as LD-2000 has been developed based on the Type 730.
The Type 730 development reportedly commenced in the early 1990s. The system bears some resemblance to the Thales Navy Netherlands Goalkeeper, but it is not known whether the two are associated. The Type 730 has replaced the Type 76A dual-37mm automatic AAA guns to become a standard air defence weapon on some PRC-built surface combatants, while other combatants are fitted with the Russian-built AK-630 CIWS.
Design
A later variant Type 730 CIWS with modified electro-optic director (Chinese Internet)
The Type 730 CIWS consists of a seven-barrel 30mm cannon, gun control and ammunition feeding mechanism, and fire-control system. A surface combatant is equipped with two of such system to provide a full 360 degree coverage.
The fully automatic seven-barrel 30mm cannon is fed by two ammunition boxes each holds 500 rounds of ready-use ammunition. One magazine would typically hold armour piercing discarding sabot and the other high explosives. The empty cartridge cases are ejected forwards out of the lower part of the mount. The cannon is driven by external power, with a maximum cyclic rate of fire of 4,600~5,800 rounds/min. The cannon has a maximum range of 3,000m, but targets are typically engaged at a distance of 1,000~1,500m.
The fire-control includes a TR47C fire-control radar and an electro-optic director, both of which are mounted on the turret roof. The electro-optic director a TV tracking camera, infrared tracking camera and laser rangefinder, which provide a maximum tracking range of 5~6km. The TR47C radar has a maximum detection range of 8km against an airborne target of RCS 0.1 square metre.
Specifications
Calibre: 30mm X 7
Rate of fire: 4,600~5,800 rounds/min Range: 3,000m Elevation: N/A Traverse: 360 degree Ammunitions: 1,000 rds (armour piercing discarding sabot and HE) Fire-control: Electro-optical + radar
