End of an era: China stops production of stealth missile frigates
The Chinese Navy has announced plans to stop production of the 4,000-ton Type 054A stealth missile frigate class.
The Type 054A Jiangkai II class is a modernized version of the basic Type 054 Jiangkai I class design. Since officially being put into service with the Chinese Navy in 2008, Beijing has continuously built this type of ship in very large numbers.
As of January 2018, there were 26 Type 054As in service, with two more still under construction, bringing the number to 28.
However, recently Chinese media has published information stating that they have planned to stop producing new ships of this class at the number... 30 to switch to building its upgraded version, Type 054B, with a quantity of about 20 ships.
|
| Chinese Navy's Type 054A missile frigate squadron |
Type 054A has a length of 134 m; width of 16 m; full load displacement of 4,053 tons. The CODAD combined propulsion system includes 4 SEMT Pielstick 16 PA6V-280 STC diesel engines with a total capacity of 18,880 kW, for a maximum speed of 30 knots, a range of 6,000 km; crew of 165 people.
The design of the Type 054A is said to be based on the French frigate La Fayette, with many angular surfaces to optimize stealth capabilities. The ship's electronic system includes radars that are clearly Russian but domestically produced by China such as Fregat-MAE-5, Mineral-ME or MR-90.
The Type 054A's firepower is quite strong and comprehensive, including the YJ-83 anti-ship missile with a range of 180 km, the HHQ-16 vertical launch air defense missile with a range of 35 km (copy of Russia's 9M317), and the Yu-7 light anti-submarine torpedo.
In addition, the ship is also equipped with a 76mm H/PJ-26 rapid-fire naval gun and a Type 730 CIWS system. The flight deck and hangar at the stern allow carrying Kamov Ka-28 or Harbin Z-9C anti-submarine helicopters.
|
| Concept of China's upgraded Type 054B missile frigate |
Currently, there have been quite a few concept designs of the Type 054B version on Chinese military forums, but it seems that this is not the final design of the manufacturer.
As expected, Type 054B will have a design length of 150 m, width of 18 m, displacement of more than 4,500 tons, maximum speed of 27 nautical miles/h, patrol speed of 18 nautical miles/h, continuous journey of 15 days within a range of 4,000 nautical miles at cruising speed. It can carry 1 Z-9 or Ka-28 helicopter.
The ship will be integrated with a multi-purpose vertical launch system like the one used on Type 052D and Type 055 destroyers, compatible with HHQ-9B air defense missiles, YJ-18 supersonic anti-ship missiles and CJ-10 surface-to-surface missiles.
Guiding it is an active electronically scanned array radar with fixed antenna arrays facing the four corners similar to the Aegis system, overcoming the latency of the previous round-looking radar solution.
If China decides to close the Type 054B version in the above direction, this will be a move that countries in the region must pay special attention to.
