Chinese frigate Binzhou (515) explained

Binzhou (515) is a Type 054A frigate of the People's Liberation Army Navy. She was commissioned on 29 December 2016.

Development and design

See main article: Type 054A frigate. The Type 054A carries HQ-16 medium-range air defence missiles and anti-submarine missiles in a vertical launching system (VLS) system. The HQ-16 has a range of up to 50 km, with superior range and engagement angles to the Type 054's HQ-7. The Type 054A's VLS uses a hot launch method; a shared common exhaust system is sited between the two rows of rectangular launching tubes.^[1]

The four AK-630 close-in weapon systems (CIWS) of the Type 054 were replaced with two Type 730 CIWS on the Type 054A. The autonomous Type 730 provides improved reaction time against close-in threats.^[2]

Construction and career

Binzhou was launched on 13 December 2015 at the Hudong-Zhonghua Shipyard in Shanghai. Commissioned on 29 December 2016.^[3]

Notes and References

1. 舰载武器SHIPBORNE WEAPONS 2013 AUGUST ISSUE
2. Web site: Chinese Navy. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20070107054058/http://mil.jschina.com.cn/huitong/Jiangkai_Jiangwei.htm. 7 January 2007. 2009-03-27. dmy-all.
3. Web site: 2017-01-01. China commissions 23rd Type 054A frigate into East Sea Fleet IHS Jane's 360. 2020-12-21. 2017-01-01. https://web.archive.org/web/20170101001143/http://www.janes.com/article/66605/china-commissions-23rd-type-054a-frigate-into-east-sea-fleet. bot: unknown.