Hussain
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China - People's Liberation Army Navy
Type 054A Jiangkai II class Guided Missile Frigate
Type 054A Jiangkai II class Guided Missile Frigate
Type 054 Frigates Thread
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Hussain
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China’s Jiangkai III–Class Frigate Takes The Stage
By Eric WertheimMarch 2025
Vol. 151/3/1,465
Early in 2025, China commissioned the Luohe, first of a new class of Type 054B multipurpose frigates. Known in Western circles as the Jiangkai III class, these frigates are evolutionary and based loosely on the Type 054A Jiangkai II class (see “China’s Multipurpose FFG,” June 2020, p. 92).
Numbered 545, the Luohe was built at Hudong Zhonghua Shipbuilding in Shanghai and launched on 26 August 2023.
Sea trials began in January 2024, and she entered service on 22 January 2025.
The Luohe reportedly is assigned to the North Sea Fleet China’s People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN).
A second ship, pennant number 555, was launched in fall 2023 at Huangpu Wenchong Shipyard in Guangzhou and is expected to enter service with the South Sea Fleet later this year.
Additional Type 054B frigates are thought to be planned, although none have yet been identified under construction.
Displacing 5,000 to 6,000 tons, the Jiangkai III class is thought to measure around 482 feet long with a 59-foot beam. Crew size is estimated to be around 240.
The Type 054B is significantly larger than its predecessor frigates, and the design reveals a greater emphasis on signature reduction.
Armament on the Type 054B is similar to the Type 054A. Both operate a 32-cell vertical-launch system (VLS) forward of the bridge, housing a mix of HHQ-16 surface-to-air missiles (SAMs) and Yu-8 antisubmarine rockets. The HHQ-16 has a range of around 40 nautical miles (nm), although this reportedly has been extended to 85 nm on newer versions of the missile.
Both frigate variants also carry eight YJ-83 antiship missiles amidships in two quad launchers. The YJ-83 is thought to have a maximum range of 100 to 135 nm, depending on the variant.
The Type 054B, however, carries a more powerful 100-mm gun in place of the 76-mm gun mounted on the Type 054A.
For self-defense, the Jiangkai III class is armed with a 24-tube HHQ-10 short-range SAM launcher aft, atop the helicopter hangar, and one 11-barrel 30-mm gatling gun, mounted between the bridge and VLS.
The primary radar for the Type 054B is a notable advancement and consists of an active electronically scanned array (AESA) mounted atop the foremast, with dual-facing/back-to-back rotating arrays to maintain 360-degree coverage. Reports indicate that a second rotating AESA radar may be housed in the after mast, which also hosts a navigation radar and other systems.
The Type 054B carries a hull-mounted sonar for antisubmarine warfare and can deploy variable-depth and towed-array sonars from the stern.
The frigates carry two triple 324-mm torpedo launchers in small covered bays, while larger side bays house rigid-hull inflatable boats for interception and boarding duties.
An aft flight deck and hangar can accommodate one Z-20 helicopter, which is similar to the U.S. Navy’s SH-60 Seahawk.
The Jiangkai IIIs are thought to be powered by a combined diesel-and-diesel propulsion system, but reliable details have yet to surface on powerplant performance, capabilities, speed, or range parameters.
Mr. Wertheim, a Proceedings columnist since 1994, is a defense consultant and specialist on international navies. He is the author of the past three editions of the Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World.
China’s Jiangkai III–Class Frigate Takes The Stage
Early in 2025, China commissioned the Luohe, first of a new class of Type 054B multipurpose frigates.
Hussain
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2nd Type 054b ship, Hull number 555
Type 054B: What We Know About New China Navy Warship
Published Jan 22, 2025
On Wednesday the Chinese Navy commissioned its first new-generation stealth frigate, the Type 054B, said to have "strong capabilities" for conducting combat operations.
Newsweek has contacted the Chinese Defense Ministry for further comment by email.
Why It Matters
According to the latest Pentagon assessment report on Chinese military power, China has the world's largest navy by hull count, with over 370 ships and submarines, including a fleet of 40 Type 054A frigates (the Type 054B's predecessor), at the end of 2023.China continues to build warships to challenge America's naval dominance in the Western Pacific. Last month, it launched its first new-generation amphibious assault ship, equipped with a catapult system that supports the flight operations of fixed-wing aircraft.
What To Know
CNS Luohe, the first ship of the Type 054B that has a hull number "545," was put into service at a military port in Qingdao, in the eastern China's Shandong province. The new warship has a displacement of 5,000 tons and is named after a city in Henan province.The independently developed Luohe "boasts advancements in stealth technology, combat command systems and firepower integration," the Chinese state-run Xinhua News Agency said in its report, which will significantly enhance the warship's overall performance.
In August 2023, the Chinese Defense Ministry confirmed the launch of the Luohe, saying the development of key combat ships is a "normal arrangement" that meets Beijing's national security requirements and is in line with the objectives of the navy's development.
According to Alex Luck, an Australia-based naval analyst writing for specialist outlet Naval News, it is estimated that the Type 054B has 32 cell missile launchers for firing anti-air and anti-submarine weapons, in addition to eight anti-ship missile box launchers.
Regarding the stealth technology that makes the warship less visible to detection, it has radar signature reduction throughout its hull, Luck explained. One of the notable stealth features is a cover for the bow anchor, which is not seen on previous Chinese warships.
Besides the Luohe, a second Type 054B, which has a hull number "555," completed its sea trials last year, according to Luck. (Shown above)
China is also building a modified Type 054A variant known as the Type 054AG, which has a larger flight deck to support helicopter operations.
What People Are Saying
China's Xinhua News Agency reported on the Type 054B frigate: "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."The Pentagon said in its Chinese military power report: "These assets [China's Type 054B frigate] will significantly upgrade the PLAN [People's Liberation Army Navy]'s air defense, anti-ship, and anti-submarine capabilities and will be critical as the PLAN expands its operations beyond the range of the PLA's shore-based air defense systems."
Alex Luck, an Australia-based naval analyst, wrote for specialist outlet Naval News: "A cautious initial phase followed by large volume production would mirror PLAN-procurement with the Type 054A frigate and the Type 052D destroyer. In any case this program for a Chinese Navy next-generation frigate appears to be well on track for now."
Type 054B: what we know about new China navy warship
Type 054B frigate CNS Luohe boasts advancements in stealth technology, Chinese state media has claimed.
www.newsweek.com
Hussain
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China’s first Type 054B frigate, the Luohe.
The main and secondary masts of the Chinese Type 054B frigate Luohe
The main 100mm gun on China’s Type 056B frigate
A Chinese Type 1130 30mm CIWS firing
A 32-cell Vertical Launching System (VLS) array aboard the Chinese Type 056B frigate
RealNapster
Elite Member
China’s Jiangkai III–Class Frigate Takes The Stage
By Eric Wertheim
March 2025
Vol. 151/3/1,465
View attachment 110016
Early in 2025, China commissioned the Luohe, first of a new class of Type 054B multipurpose frigates. Known in Western circles as the Jiangkai III class, these frigates are evolutionary and based loosely on the Type 054A Jiangkai II class (see “China’s Multipurpose FFG,” June 2020, p. 92).
Numbered 545, the Luohe was built at Hudong Zhonghua Shipbuilding in Shanghai and launched on 26 August 2023.
Sea trials began in January 2024, and she entered service on 22 January 2025.
The Luohe reportedly is assigned to the North Sea Fleet China’s People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN).
A second ship, pennant number 555, was launched in fall 2023 at Huangpu Wenchong Shipyard in Guangzhou and is expected to enter service with the South Sea Fleet later this year.
Additional Type 054B frigates are thought to be planned, although none have yet been identified under construction.
Displacing 5,000 to 6,000 tons, the Jiangkai III class is thought to measure around 482 feet long with a 59-foot beam. Crew size is estimated to be around 240.
The Type 054B is significantly larger than its predecessor frigates, and the design reveals a greater emphasis on signature reduction.
Armament on the Type 054B is similar to the Type 054A. Both operate a 32-cell vertical-launch system (VLS) forward of the bridge, housing a mix of HHQ-16 surface-to-air missiles (SAMs) and Yu-8 antisubmarine rockets. The HHQ-16 has a range of around 40 nautical miles (nm), although this reportedly has been extended to 85 nm on newer versions of the missile.
Both frigate variants also carry eight YJ-83 antiship missiles amidships in two quad launchers. The YJ-83 is thought to have a maximum range of 100 to 135 nm, depending on the variant.
The Type 054B, however, carries a more powerful 100-mm gun in place of the 76-mm gun mounted on the Type 054A.
For self-defense, the Jiangkai III class is armed with a 24-tube HHQ-10 short-range SAM launcher aft, atop the helicopter hangar, and one 11-barrel 30-mm gatling gun, mounted between the bridge and VLS.
The primary radar for the Type 054B is a notable advancement and consists of an active electronically scanned array (AESA) mounted atop the foremast, with dual-facing/back-to-back rotating arrays to maintain 360-degree coverage. Reports indicate that a second rotating AESA radar may be housed in the after mast, which also hosts a navigation radar and other systems.
The Type 054B carries a hull-mounted sonar for antisubmarine warfare and can deploy variable-depth and towed-array sonars from the stern.
The frigates carry two triple 324-mm torpedo launchers in small covered bays, while larger side bays house rigid-hull inflatable boats for interception and boarding duties.
An aft flight deck and hangar can accommodate one Z-20 helicopter, which is similar to the U.S. Navy’s SH-60 Seahawk.
The Jiangkai IIIs are thought to be powered by a combined diesel-and-diesel propulsion system, but reliable details have yet to surface on powerplant performance, capabilities, speed, or range parameters.
Mr. Wertheim, a Proceedings columnist since 1994, is a defense consultant and specialist on international navies. He is the author of the past three editions of the Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World.
China’s Jiangkai III–Class Frigate Takes The Stage
Early in 2025, China commissioned the Luohe, first of a new class of Type 054B multipurpose frigates.www.usni.org
I have a question if someone aware of these things can answer, why would you increase tonnage from 4000 to 5000-6000 and still offer the same weapons load ? I mean we have examples of 2500-3500 ton ships carries almost the same weapons load (including quad-packing in VLS system). So why so heavy ship with comparatively less weapons load ? A ship the size of 054B should have 64 cell VLS out of which some should have Quad-Packing capabilities as well.
Hussain
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Very interesting question! Really appreciate it.
Lets see what @Quwa or @Oscar can tell us, but what I understand is, increasing tonnage does have its pros and cons.
Con being the additional drag, and size.
Pro being increased Armour / increased ammo capacity / better staff quarters/ bigger hanger / increased fuel capacity, increased power generation.
Lets see what our fellow members say...
Michael
VIP Member
Simple explanation:
At the same level and under the same technical conditions, the number of weapons carried by offensive weapon platforms is usually less than that carried by defensive weapon platforms.
For example:
PLAAF's J-10C carries fewer weapons than PAF's J-10CE.
The displacement of the PLA Navy's Type 22 missile boat is only 220 tons, but it carries 8 YJ-83 anti-ship missiles.
The explosive power of offensive grenades is much smaller than that of defensive grenades.
More explanation:
Weapon factors.
Modern warfare is very expensive. No country can consume ammunition indefinitely. If we can complete the mission with only one missile, then why should we carry more missiles?
However, this is an era of spiraling attack/defense technology.
How to ensure that the missiles you launch can accurately hit the target and cause sufficient damage to the target?
This requires a lot of military science and technology and a huge war support system. Intelligence system, navigation system, communication system, anti-interference system...
For warships, the more advanced the warship is, the larger its support system is, and the more non-weapon space it needs.
Human factors.
The larger the space of a warship, the more supplies it can carry. More fuel, more food, more comfortable space. Naval soldiers can go to farther areas and perform longer missions in a more comfortable way.
RealNapster
Elite Member
So it's meant to help PLA Navy patrol far from its shore for longer durations. As I remember that currently some Chinese ships are relatively smaller and have less accomodations and personnels. Which means they are not much fit for longer durations and far away missions like USA navy does. Lack of foreign navy bases of PLA Navy also increases the requirement for larger ships that can accommodate many personnels easily.
Michael
VIP Member
Well. It depends on how you compare.
At present, the smallest tonnage warship that the PLA Navy uses for missions is the 054A. The 052D and 055 are much larger.
The smaller 056A is only used for homeland defense and does not go out. (It is reported that China is looking for international buyers for these 056As and plans to sell them all. Some 056As are already being transferred)
As for auxiliary warships, they are generally larger than the 054A.
The fleet sent by China to the Middle East/Europe is generally composed of: a frigate (054A), a destroyer (052D), and a supply ship (903). It is unlikely that we will send a stronger fleet to the Gulf of Aden to perform escort missions. If warships of the 055/075 level appear there, it is easy to cause tension in the international situation.
China's fleet in the Pacific region is relatively large.
RealNapster
Elite Member
I believe that is the ambition. It seems China want all of its ships (except coast guard) to be capable of operations in Pacific region.
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