China commissions two stealth anti-submarine frigates

China's South Sea Fleet has just received two Type-056A missile frigates for anti-submarine and fleet protection missions.

Type-056A frigate No. 551 during the commissioning ceremony on November 28, 2017. Photo: Navy.81.cn.

In November, the Chinese Navy commissioned two more Type-056A (Jiangdao) missile frigates into the South Sea Fleet, bringing the number of this type of warship officially put into operation in 2017 to seven, according to Sputnik.

"The structure of China's naval forces is growing rapidly, there has never been a navy that has developed at such a speed in history," commented expert Peter Roberts of the Royal United Services Institute.

The Type-056A frigate is 89 m long, 11 m wide, displaces 1,300 tons, and uses diesel engines. The ship has a maximum speed of over 55 km/h and a continuous operating range of over 5,600 km. The crew on board consists of 75 people.

The ship is equipped with a FL-3000 low-altitude air defense system with eight missiles, a PJ26 76mm naval gun, two 30mm remote-controlled gun systems, two YJ-83 anti-ship missile launchers and two lightweight torpedo launchers. The ship is also equipped with special hydroacoustic equipment specifically for detecting submarines.

The Type-056A is a new class of Chinese light corvettes, equipped with a variety of weapons and stealth technology, as well as a high level of informationization. This type of ship is optimized for anti-submarine warfare and escorting large warship formations, and is distinguished by its low construction cost and simple operation.

According to VNE