The Type 054B (NATO/OSD Jiangkai III)[5] is a class of guided-missile frigate under construction for the People's Republic of China. It is a development of the Type 054A frigate, and is around 50% larger than its predecessor.[6]
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Builders | |
| Operators |  People's Liberation Army Navy |
| Preceded by | Type 054A frigate |
| Building | 2[1][2] |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Frigate |
| Displacement | Approx. 6,000 tons full load[3][1] |
| Length | 147 m (482 ft)[3][1][4] |
| Beam | 18 m (59 ft)[3][1][4] |
History and development
editIn the 2010s, Chinese military observers speculated a successor design to Type 054A frigate, designated Type 054B or Type 057. In the early 2020s, more confident intelligence suggested the successor to Type 054A would be the Type 054B. The first two hulls of the Type 054B were observed to be under construction in the Hudong shipyard and the Huangpu shipyard in Shanghai, both laid down in 2022.[4] The first was launched in August 2023[6] and the second in October 2023.
Two more Type 054B frigates are confirmed to be under construction, being laid down in 2023.
Design
editThe Type 054B class is overall longer and wider than its predecessor, the Type 054A frigates. The class features an enclosed bow and an integrated mast to reduce radar cross-sections. A double-side rotating phased array radar is mounted at the tip of the topside structures. The main gun is a modified variant of the H/PJ-87 100mm naval gun. At the bow position, there is a vertical launch system (VLS) of 32 cells. Defensive systems include a Type 1130 11-barrel 30mm close in weapon system, an HQ-10 air defense missiles, and multiple Type 726 countermeasure launchers. Ports of variable depth sonar, towed linear sonar, and towed acoustic decoy can be identified at the stern.[4][7]
Ships of class
edit| Pennant number | Name | Builder | Launched | Commissioned | Fleet | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hudong-Zhonghua Shipyard[1] | 26 August 2023[6] | Building | ||||
| Huangpu Shipyard[1] | 29 October 2023[8] | Building |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "China appears to be readying 2 advanced warships for launch, adding muscle to aircraft carrier group". South China Morning Post. 16 July 2023. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
- ^ a b c d Joe, Rick (11 September 2023). "Assessing the Chinese Navy's New 054B Frigate". The Diplomat.
- ^ "PLAN 2024 Identification Guide". Office of Naval Intelligence.
- ^ a b c "First New Generation Frigate For Chinese Navy Launched In Shanghai". navalnews.com. 29 August 2023.
- ^ Newdick, Thomas (28 August 2023). "This Is China's New Type 054B Frigate, Could Become Backbone Of Navy". The War Zone.
- ^ E. Fanell, James (May 2024). "Another Historic Year for the PLA Navy". USNI News.
