Description: The Type 346 is a multi-functional active phased array radar developed to fit into the Chinese Navy destroyers equipped with advanced area air defense capability such as Type 052C and Type 052D classes. The radar system is intended to detect and track several hundreds of airborne targets such as fast jets and helicopters as well as surface threats such as fast speed boats and sea-skimming anti-ship missiles. The Chinese Type 346 is similar to the US Navy's SPY-1 active phased array radar mounted on AEGIS-equipped destroyers and cruisers. The Type 346 radar system entered service in 2004 onboard the lead ship of the Type 052C class which was the first boat equipped with the Chinese AEGIS.

The Type 346B is an improved version of the Type 346 radar systems intended to outfit the Type 055 destroyer to be commissioned by 2020. The Type 346A radar is far more powerful and is larger in size than its predecessor with presumably longer detection range as well as improved performance against a wide range of potential threats. The Type 346B radar features active phased array technology, also known as Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA), for improved performance with the ability to spot small and stealth targets while guiding surface-to-air missiles (SAM). The radar system uses eight fixed faced antennas operating in S/C-band and X-band with a maximum detection range of 500-to-600 kilometers. The radar design has been optimized for having low probability of intercept by enemy sensor systems. All in, the Type 346B dual-band radar system can be compared with the DDG 1000 SPY-3 and DDG 51 Flight III SPY-6 radar systems.