The Chinese warship that docked at Cam Ranh port belongs to the most powerful class of frigates.

The Chinese naval task force visiting Vietnam's Cam Ranh port includes two Type-054A-class missile frigates, the most modern in the country's navy's inventory.

The missile frigate Xiangtan 531 enters Cam Ranh International Port.

On October 22, two guided missile destroyers, Xiangtan 531 and Zhoushan 529, together...Sao Ho supply shipChinese Navy vessel 890 has docked at Cam Ranh International Port (Khanh Hoa province), beginning a visit to Vietnam that will last until October 26th, aimed at strengthening relations between Vietnam and China.

According to the defense website IHS Jane's, all three warships in this task force...Both belong to the East China Sea Fleet, the force responsible for the waters bordering Japan and Taiwan. While the Chaohu 890 is a Type-093A class logistics ship, the other two ships...The remaining ships in the squadron are all Type-054A-class missile frigates, considered to be among the most modern warships currently in service with the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN).

The Zhoushan 529 is the first ship of the Type-054A class, commissioned in 2008. The Xiangtan 531 is the newest ship to join the PLAN, having joined in early 2016.

Designated by NATO asGiang KhaiII, Type-054A is a class of multi-purpose missile frigates that entered service with the PLAN in 2007. This year, China commissioned 22 out of a total of 24 ships of this class.Giang KhaiII is scheduled to close.

According tomilitary analystRidzwan Rahmat of IHS Jane's,The Type-054A is one of the most powerful missile frigates in Asia today. The ship is 134 meters long, 16 meters wide, and has a maximum displacement of 4,053 tons. The Type-054A uses four Shaanxi 16 PA6 STC diesel engines, giving it a maximum speed of nearly 50 km/h and a continuous operating range of 14,800 km.

Weapon systems on a Chinese Type-054A missile frigate. Photo: Xuan Ngoc

The Type-054A-class frigate's primary offensive weapon is eight YJ-83 anti-ship missiles with a range of approximately 120-180 km. The ship is also equipped with a vertical launch system carrying 32 HHQ-16 anti-aircraft missiles (range 50 km). The Type-054A carries a PJ-26 76 mm main gun and two Type-730 30 mm seven-barreled guns for close-range air defense. Anti-submarine weapons include six 324 mm torpedo tubes and twelve Type-87 240 mm rocket launchers.

China's Type-054A-class missile frigates all feature stealth design, with multiple slopes on the upper deck to disperse radar signals, while the entire hull is covered with radar-absorbing material and has very few superfluous external details.

Logistics support shipSao Ho 890 belongs toClass Type-903A, began to be introducedCommissioned into the East China Sea Fleet in 2013. This is one of eight Type-903A class supply ships currently in service with the Chinese navy.

The supply ship Sao Ho 890 at the base. Photo: Shipspotting.

The ship is 178 m long, 24.8 m wide, and has a displacement of approximately 23,400 tons. It is equipped with two diesel engines, giving it a maximum speed of about 36 km/h and a maximum range of 18,000 km. The crew consists of 130 people.

The Type-903A-class supply ship can carry 10,500 tons of fuel, 250 tons of fresh water, and 680 tons of cargo and ammunition. It is capable of supplying a small task force, such as two Type-054A ships, for an extended period. For self-defense, the Type-903A is equipped with four twin-barreled J-76F 37 mm gun mounts. Additionally, the ship can carry a Harbin Z-9 multi-purpose helicopter.

According to VNE