Hengyang (568) is a Type 054A frigate of the People's Liberation Army Navy. She was commissioned on 30 June 2008.
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]
Hengyang was launched on 23 May 2007 at the Hudong-Zhonghua Shipyard in Shanghai. Commissioned on 30 June 2008.
On 27 March 2013, Hengyang, Huangshan and Qinghaihu arrived in Grand Harbour, Malta.[3]
Hengyang, Honghu and Yulin made a goodwill visit to Auckland, New Zealand in June 2017.