Type 054 Frigates Thread
- Thread starter Hussain
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Avicenna
Trusted Member
One of the 2 new Type 054B.
Michael
VIP Member
The Type 054A frigate Yulin (569).
--- This is the second production batch of the Type 054A frigate, and also the first batch of the Type 054A frigate after its official design finalization. It entered service in early 2010.
Type 054A frigate - Wikipedia
The Type 054B frigate Qinzhou (555).
--- It is one of the first two Type 054B frigates. The other one is the Luohe (545). Both frigates entered service last year (2025).
Type 054B frigate - Wikipedia
Hussain
Trusted Member
- Thread starter
- #35
Appreciate the update. Thanks!The Type 054A frigate Yulin (569).
--- This is the second production batch of the Type 054A frigate, and also the first batch of the Type 054A frigate after its official design finalization. It entered service in early 2010.
Type 054A frigate - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
The Type 054B frigate Qinzhou (555).
--- It is one of the first two Type 054B frigates. The other one is the Luohe (545). Both frigates entered service last year (2025).
Type 054B frigate - Wikipedia
brainsucker
Registered Member
I dont get it. Why they still put YJ83 to their best and newest frigate when they have already have newer and better ashm in their inventory
Michael
VIP Member
The role of the Type 054 series frigates in the PLA Navy dictates their weapon configuration.
The first two production batches of Type 054 frigates were economical, multi-purpose warships. They possessed various capabilities, but none were particularly strong. They could also perform long-range ocean voyages.
Starting with the third production batch, the Type 054 frigates began to focus on strengthening their defensive capabilities (close-in defense, air defense, and anti-submarine warfare), while their offensive capabilities (land and anti-ship attack) have not been upgraded. In the PLA Navy system, offensive tasks are undertaken by warships such as the Type 052D/055, and the Type 054 series frigates do not undertake offensive missions. Therefore, they are only equipped with a small number of YJ-83 missiles for emergency situations and self-defense. Even the latest Type 054B frigate retains the same functional positioning within the PLA Navy.
The YJ-83 missile is an excellent missile for this functional role. China also possesses a large inventory of YJ-83 missiles. Using the same maintenance system saves significant funds. It's important to note that one of the core design constraints of the Type 054 series frigates is cost limitation.
This is why they still use the YJ-83 missile.
The Pakistani Navy's operational requirements shifted towards offensive warships. Therefore, the Type 054A/P frigate underwent extensive customization and modifications, with everything from radar to anti-ship missiles being replaced with superior weapon systems to enhance its strike capabilities. This was a decision made by the Pakistani Navy based on its own specific needs. However, the PLA Navy does not require this type of Type 054 series frigate.
Last edited:
ThoroughPro
Registered Member
fuel, supplies, and armamnet for long range/long duration ops
ety
Trusted Member
Type 054A frigates used to be maybe still are PLAN's favorite fighting ships simply for their reliability, easy and good o use and ready to be dispatched to duty in a very short time any time plus large number 054A are in service. 054A certainly are not the most advanced and sophisticated ships PLAN has in stock. They are the work horses of PLAN in China's sea waters. That's why even now PLAN is still building more 054A frigates maybe totaling well over 50 in the end.
Last edited:
Hussain
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- Thread starter
- #40
China’s Next-generation Stealth Frigate Achieves Operational Capability
January 29, 2026
Luohe (545), China’s first Type 054B guided-missile stealth frigate, received operational capability, as announced Jan. 22, 2026, by Chinese state media. China Military photo
Beijing’s newest class of surface combatant achieved operational capability, Chinese military media reported last week.
The milestone was unveiled Jan. 22 during a state media report covering the one-year commissioning anniversary of the first Type 054B guided-missile stealth frigate Luohe (545).
“Over the past year, Luohe has achieved breakthroughs in naval vessel stealth technology, combat command systems, as well as fire control integration, and has developed a robust capability for conducting comprehensive combat operations and diverse maritime missions,” Chinese state media Global Times reported.
Commissioned last year, Luohe marked a departure from Beijing’s existing Type 054A-class frigates, which are among the most common vessels in the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN). With a production run of over 40 hulls, the Type 054A frigates are frequently deployed across the Western Pacific for presence missions in the South China Sea and combat drills around Taiwan. They are a symbol of the service’s rapid modernization and expansion of blue water naval capabilities. The China Coast Guard also operates a modified cutter variant, the Type 818.
Two Type 054B-class vessels were commissioned into the PLAN. Aside from Luohe, Qinzhou (555) was also put into active service last year. These frigates are assigned to the North Sea Fleet and South Sea Fleet, respectively.
Among the most striking features seen on Luohe compared to previous Type 054As is its air defense sensor suite, which is composed of a rotating radar array on the primary mast, as well as a secondary integrated mast. The frigate also sports aviation facilities capable of accommodating Z-20 anti-submarine helicopters and enhanced command and control systems.
The Type 054B’s dimensions, tonnage and armament deviate slightly from the previous class of frigates, with minor increases in length, beam and weight. Luohe’s armament still retains a main vertical launching system bank of 32 cells but adds a different 100mm gun and a missile-based close-in-weapons system turret.
It is unclear what the role of the Type 054B will be in the PLAN’s future plans.
China has a history of fielding two-ship classes that fulfill crucial developmental roles for follow-on technologies or warship designs. Examples include the initial Type 054 frigate and the Type 052B and C destroyer classes. Last week, Janes reported the construction of a third Type 054B hull at the Hudong Changxingdao shipyard in Shanghai.
Hussain
Trusted Member
- Thread starter
- #43
PLA Navy ship Daqing,
Hull Number 576,
Type 054A
Chinese naval vessel arrives for bilateral maritime exercise in Karachi
Published March 26, 2026
KARACHI: A Chinese Navy Ship, Daqing, arrived here on Wednesday for participation in the 4th iteration of bilateral exercise Sea Guardian.
The People’s Liberation Army (Navy) vessel was accorded a ceremonial welcome and escorted into port by Pakistan Navy ships with traditional zeal.
The Sea Guardian exercise, which will be concluded on April 2, aims to further strengthen bilateral relations through the mutual exchange of maritime expertise and enhanced interoperability between the two friendly navies, reflecting their shared commitment to regional peace.
The exercise features a range of harbour and sea-phase activities, including subject matter expert engagements, a young officers’ seminar on contemporary topics, gunnery firings, coordinated patrols and other maritime security operations.
The Sea Guardian series of exercises reflects the strong bond and shared commitment of Pakistan and China to regional peace and stability. It is expected to further enhance their strategic partnership and contribute to a stable maritime environment in the region.
Published in Dawn, March 26th, 2026
Beijingwalker
VIP Member
Chinese official media reveals new details on Type 054B frigate as AI algorithms nearly eliminate air defense blind spots
By Liang Rui and
Liu Xuanzun
Published: Mar 29, 2026 05:07 PM
The Qinzhou, the second Type 054B frigate of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy, conducts formation training alongside Type 055 and Type 052D destroyers. Photo: Screenshot from the military channel of CCTV News
An official media report on Sunday disclosed multiple new developments regarding the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy's Type 054B guided-missile frigate Qinzhou. The report highlighted one of its most distinctive features: a next-generation architecture powered by advanced AI algorithms, enabling near-zero blind spots in air defense. Experts say the Type 054B represents a major leap in integrated combat capability and positions the vessel among the most advanced frigates in service today.
In the video released by the military channel of CCTV News on Sunday, Zhang Yunpeng, a crew member of the Qinzhou, described the ship's defining feature in one word: "new."
He noted that the platform incorporates enhanced stealth design, with antennas and sensors integrated and optimized to significantly reduce radar cross-section. The vessel is also built entirely with domestically produced components. Compared with earlier ships, it boasts greater propulsion efficiency, lower fuel consumption, extended range, and an expanded combat radius.
In addition, the ship adopts a more streamlined command structure. This "flattened" command system enables more efficient and scientifically optimized interaction between commanders and weapon systems, improving overall operational responsiveness.
Zhang emphasized that the most notable advancement lies in the ship's new architectural framework. Taking air defense as an example, he explained that stronger computing power and more advanced algorithms, combined with AI assistance, significantly reduce or even eliminate blind zones in detection and engagement in air defense combat. This allows weapons systems to achieve greater operational effectiveness.
The report also highlighted the vessel's main gun system, which represents a newer generation of naval artillery. During the current training cycle, the system has fired hundreds of rounds without a single malfunction, providing a solid foundation for the rapid generation of combat capability for the Type 054B.
The CCTV News footage showed the Type 054B frigate Qinzhou conducting formation training alongside Type 055 and Type 052D destroyers.
The CCTV News report also highlighted the ship's role in anti-submarine operations during joint exercises with amphibious assault ships, underscoring the frigate's core mission as a protective escort.
Zhang recalled one such exercise, in which torpedo threats were introduced during the final phase of a drill. Initially responding according to standard single-ship defense procedures, the crew later realized the incoming torpedoes were targeting an amphibious assault ship rather than their own vessel.
"In that moment, we made a high-speed maneuver to place ourselves between the torpedoes and the amphibious assault ship," Zhang said. "Everyone on board understood the significance of that decision: it likely meant sacrificing ourselves to protect the amphibious assault ship. But whether in a carrier group or an amphibious task force, the frigate's mission is to serve as the final line of defense - the last shield."
On January 22, 2025, China's first Type 054B frigate, the Luohe, was commissioned at a naval port in Qingdao, East China's Shandong Province.
According to the Xinhua News Agency, the Type 054B has a displacement of approximately 5,000 tons. This new-generation frigate, independently developed and constructed by China, boasts advancements in stealth technology, combat command systems and firepower integration, significantly enhancing overall performance. With strong capabilities for comprehensive combat operations and diverse military missions, the warship will play a vital role in enhancing the overall combat effectiveness of naval task forces, Xinhua said.
The second Type 054B frigate of the PLA Navy, the Qinzhou, appeared in a poster released by the PLA South China Sea Fleet on April 12, 2025. Shortly after, the military channel of CCTV News reported on May 4, 2025 that the vessel was rapidly deployed for realistic training in the South China Sea. During its first live-fire exercise, the crew achieved a direct hit, successfully sinking a towed target.
Chinese military affairs expert Zhang Xuefeng described the Type 054B as one of the most advanced frigates in the world. He told the Global Times that the vessel achieves a balance across anti-submarine, anti-ship, and air defense capabilities, while leveraging new technologies to deliver a highly cost-effective design.
According to Zhang Xuefeng, this makes the Type 054B a strong candidate for large-scale production, enabling the PLA Navy to deploy more vessels to address diverse maritime threats.
Zhang Junshe, another Chinese military affairs expert, told the Global Times that the Type 054B is an upgraded derivative of the Type 054A frigate, featuring greater displacement and longer operational range. These improvements allow it to undertake blue-water missions, including coordinated operations with carrier strike groups and advanced destroyers, as well as regional air defense and anti-submarine warfare tasks.
By Liang Rui and
Liu Xuanzun
Published: Mar 29, 2026 05:07 PM
The Qinzhou, the second Type 054B frigate of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy, conducts formation training alongside Type 055 and Type 052D destroyers. Photo: Screenshot from the military channel of CCTV News
An official media report on Sunday disclosed multiple new developments regarding the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy's Type 054B guided-missile frigate Qinzhou. The report highlighted one of its most distinctive features: a next-generation architecture powered by advanced AI algorithms, enabling near-zero blind spots in air defense. Experts say the Type 054B represents a major leap in integrated combat capability and positions the vessel among the most advanced frigates in service today.
In the video released by the military channel of CCTV News on Sunday, Zhang Yunpeng, a crew member of the Qinzhou, described the ship's defining feature in one word: "new."
He noted that the platform incorporates enhanced stealth design, with antennas and sensors integrated and optimized to significantly reduce radar cross-section. The vessel is also built entirely with domestically produced components. Compared with earlier ships, it boasts greater propulsion efficiency, lower fuel consumption, extended range, and an expanded combat radius.
In addition, the ship adopts a more streamlined command structure. This "flattened" command system enables more efficient and scientifically optimized interaction between commanders and weapon systems, improving overall operational responsiveness.
Zhang emphasized that the most notable advancement lies in the ship's new architectural framework. Taking air defense as an example, he explained that stronger computing power and more advanced algorithms, combined with AI assistance, significantly reduce or even eliminate blind zones in detection and engagement in air defense combat. This allows weapons systems to achieve greater operational effectiveness.
The report also highlighted the vessel's main gun system, which represents a newer generation of naval artillery. During the current training cycle, the system has fired hundreds of rounds without a single malfunction, providing a solid foundation for the rapid generation of combat capability for the Type 054B.
The CCTV News footage showed the Type 054B frigate Qinzhou conducting formation training alongside Type 055 and Type 052D destroyers.
The CCTV News report also highlighted the ship's role in anti-submarine operations during joint exercises with amphibious assault ships, underscoring the frigate's core mission as a protective escort.
Zhang recalled one such exercise, in which torpedo threats were introduced during the final phase of a drill. Initially responding according to standard single-ship defense procedures, the crew later realized the incoming torpedoes were targeting an amphibious assault ship rather than their own vessel.
"In that moment, we made a high-speed maneuver to place ourselves between the torpedoes and the amphibious assault ship," Zhang said. "Everyone on board understood the significance of that decision: it likely meant sacrificing ourselves to protect the amphibious assault ship. But whether in a carrier group or an amphibious task force, the frigate's mission is to serve as the final line of defense - the last shield."
On January 22, 2025, China's first Type 054B frigate, the Luohe, was commissioned at a naval port in Qingdao, East China's Shandong Province.
According to the Xinhua News Agency, the Type 054B has a displacement of approximately 5,000 tons. This new-generation frigate, independently developed and constructed by China, boasts advancements in stealth technology, combat command systems and firepower integration, significantly enhancing overall performance. With strong capabilities for comprehensive combat operations and diverse military missions, the warship will play a vital role in enhancing the overall combat effectiveness of naval task forces, Xinhua said.
The second Type 054B frigate of the PLA Navy, the Qinzhou, appeared in a poster released by the PLA South China Sea Fleet on April 12, 2025. Shortly after, the military channel of CCTV News reported on May 4, 2025 that the vessel was rapidly deployed for realistic training in the South China Sea. During its first live-fire exercise, the crew achieved a direct hit, successfully sinking a towed target.
Chinese military affairs expert Zhang Xuefeng described the Type 054B as one of the most advanced frigates in the world. He told the Global Times that the vessel achieves a balance across anti-submarine, anti-ship, and air defense capabilities, while leveraging new technologies to deliver a highly cost-effective design.
According to Zhang Xuefeng, this makes the Type 054B a strong candidate for large-scale production, enabling the PLA Navy to deploy more vessels to address diverse maritime threats.
Zhang Junshe, another Chinese military affairs expert, told the Global Times that the Type 054B is an upgraded derivative of the Type 054A frigate, featuring greater displacement and longer operational range. These improvements allow it to undertake blue-water missions, including coordinated operations with carrier strike groups and advanced destroyers, as well as regional air defense and anti-submarine warfare tasks.
东风夜放花千树
Registered Member
I think there are two logical reasons.
First, the article mentioned that this is the first 054B ship. Therefore, this new ship might serve as a platform for the next-generation frigates. For example, with the J-15, we developed the J-15DH, J-15DT, and J-15P based on it. The first J-15 can be called the platform for a carrier-based aircraft. The difference is that the J-15 is an improved model, while naval ships improve on shortcomings. We continuously make improvements until these equipments can be widely deployed.
The new technologies used in new weapons don’t exceed 30%, which is standard practice in new weapon development. Once this ship has been in service for some time, the military will provide evaluation and improvement suggestions, and defense companies will carry out modifications according to these requirements in the next stage. Only when it fully meets the military’s requirements will mass production begin.
The second possibility is that the vertical launch system has not changed because longer-range, heavier missiles have been deployed, or new equipment has been installed internally.
These are all my speculations. China’s weapon parameters are strictly confidential. For example, Pakistan uses the PL-15E, with a stated range of ≥145km. In fact, the Pakistani military shot down an Indian aircraft at a distance of 190km.
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