Type 054A frigate explained

The Type 054A (NATO/OSD Jiangkai II) is a class of guided-missile frigate from the People's Republic of China. It is a development of the Type 054 frigate;[1] compared to its predecessor, the Type 054A has medium-range air defense capability in the form of Type 382 radar and vertically launched (VLS) HHQ-16 surface-to-air missiles.[2]

The first ship (Xuzhou) of the new Type 054A was laid down in 2005 and entered service with the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) in January 2008;[3] the class was a key component of the PLAN's surface fleet by the late 2010s.[4] [5] Production was ongoing in 2023, with 30 ships in service by mid 2019, while the next batch of 10 ships commissioned from 2022 onwards, and a final batch of 10 ships under development.[6]

Design

The Type 054 was heavily influenced by the from France, and so reflected the strategic and operational requirements of that country. The development of the Type 054A may have been driven by China's need to address high-intensity armed conflict.[7]

The Type 054A uses the same stealthy hull form as the Type 054.[1] The forward launcher for HQ-7 short-range SAM[8] is replaced with a 32-cell vertical launching system[3] for medium-range HHQ-16 SAMs and Yu-8 antisubmarine rockets.[1] The smaller main gun and Type 730 close-in weapon system (CIWS) are also installed.[3]

The radar suite makes use of technology reverse engineered from Russian systems; the affected Chinese systems may include the H/LJQ-382 air search radar (from the Fregat MAE-3) and the H/LJQ-366 fire control radar (from the Mineral ME).[9] [10] [1] The HHQ-16 target illuminators may also be derived from the Russian MR-90.[11] [10] [1]

Ships starting with the 17th unit (Huanggang) were constructed with enhanced anti-submarine warfare capability - adding variable depth and towed array sonar - and the Type 1130 CIWS instead of the Type 730.[1] [12] These ships have been unofficially referred to as Type 054A+, Type 054A2, or modified Jiangkai II.[1]

In 2015, Gabe Collins estimated that each ship cost .[13]

Operational history

Type 054As have regularly deployed beyond China's regional waters.[4]

Ships have participated in anti-piracy naval patrols off of Somalia. The first was Huangshan, which deployed as part of China's second rotation in April 2019. From there, the ships have been detached to respond to regional crises. Frigates evacuated Chinese citizens from Libya in 2011 - making Xuzhou the first PLAN ship to enter the Mediterranean Sea - and Yemen in 2015. Another joined an international effort to secure Syria's chemical weapons in 2014.[4]

Frigates also participated in the first Chinese naval exercises with the Russian Navy in the Mediterranean in 2015 and the Baltic Sea in 2017.[4]

Exports

In January 2013, it was confirmed that China offered three Type 054As to the Royal Thai Navy for US$1 billion.[14] Ultimately, Thailand selected a derivative of the South Korean from Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering.[15]

Pakistan ordered four Type 054A variants from Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding in 2017-2018 as the Type 054A/P, or . The first entered service on 8 November 2021, and all four were commissioned by mid 2022.[16]

Ships of class

Pennant number Name Namesake Builder Launched Commissioned Fleet Status
530[17] 徐州 / XuzhouCity of XuzhouHuangpu Shipyard30 September 200627 January 2008[18] East Sea FleetActive
529[19] 舟山 / ZhoushanCity of ZhoushanHudong-Zhonghua[20] 21 December 20063 January 2008East Sea FleetActive
570黄山 / HuangshanCity of HuangshanHuangpu Shipyard18 March 200715 May 2008South Sea FleetActive[21]
568衡阳 / HengyangCity of HengyangHudong-Zhonghua23 May 200730 June 2008South Sea FleetActive
571[22] 运城 / YunchengCity of YunchengHuangpu Shipyard8 February 2009December 2009South Sea FleetActive
569玉林 / YulinCity of Yulin, GuangxiHudong-Zhonghua28 April 20091 February 2010South Sea FleetActive[23]
548益阳 / YiyangCity of YiyangHuangpu Shipyard17 November 200926 October 2010East Sea FleetActive
549[24] 常州 / ChangzhouCity of ChangzhouHudong-Zhonghua18 May 201030 May 2011East Sea FleetActive
538[25] 烟台 / YantaiCity of YantaiHuangpu ShipyardAugust 2010June 2011North Sea FleetActive
546盐城 / YanchengCity of YanchengHudong-Zhonghua27 April 20115 June 2012North Sea FleetActive[26]
572衡水 / HengshuiCity of HengshuiHuangpu Shipyard20119 July 2012South Sea FleetActive[27]
573柳州 / LiuzhouCity of LiuzhouHudong-Zhonghua10 December 201126 December 2012South Sea FleetActive
547临沂 / LinyiCity of LinyiHuangpu ShipyardDecember 201122 December 2012North Sea FleetActive[28]
575岳阳 / YueyangCity of YueyangHuangpu Shipyard19 May 20123 May 2013South Sea FleetActive
550潍坊 / WeifangCity of WeifangHudong-Zhonghua9 July 201222 June 2013[29] North Sea FleetActive
574三亚 / SanyaCity of SanyaHudong-Zhonghua30 November 201213 December 2013South Sea FleetActive
Type 054a+ (stretched)
577[30] 黄冈 / HuanggangCity of HuanggangHudong-Zhonghua28 April 201316 January 2015East Sea FleetActive
576[31] 大庆 / DaqingCity of DaqingHuangpu Shipyard8 October 201316 January 2015North Sea FleetActive
578[32] 扬州 / YangzhouCity of YangzhouHudong-Zhonghua30 September 201321 September 2015East Sea FleetActive
579邯郸 / HandanCity of HandanHuangpu Shipyard26 July 201416 August 2015North Sea FleetActive
532[33] 荆州 / JingzhouCity of JingzhouHudong-Zhonghua22 January 20155 January 2016East Sea FleetActive
531[34] 湘潭 / XiangtanCity of XiangtanHuangpu Shipyard19 March 201524 February 2016East Sea FleetActive
515[35] 滨州 / BinzhouCity of BinzhouHudong-Zhonghua13 December 201529 December 2016East Sea FleetActive
536[36] 许昌 / XuchangCity of XuchangHuangpu Shipyard30 May 201623 June 2017South Sea FleetActive
539[37] 芜湖 / WuhuCity of WuhuHudong-Zhonghua8 June 201629 June 2017North Sea FleetActive
598日照 / RizhaoCity of RizhaoHuangpu Shipyard1 April 201712 January 2018North Sea FleetActive
599安阳 / AnyangCity of AnyangHudong-Zhonghua28 March 201712 April 2018[38] East Sea FleetActive
500[39] 咸宁 / XianningCity of XianningHuangpu Shipyard22 September 201728 August 2018South Sea Fleet[40] Active
601[41] 南通 / NantongCity of NantongHudong-Zhonghua16 December 201723 January 2019East Sea FleetActive
542[42] 枣庄 / ZaozhuangCity of ZaozhuangHuangpu Shipyard30 June 201822 February 2019North Sea FleetActive
522资阳 / ZiyangCity of ZiyangHuangpu Shipyard12 July 2021May 2022Active
534鹤壁 / HebiCity of HebiHudong-Zhonghua1 August 2021December 2022Active
540西昌市 / XichangCity of XichangHuangpu ShipyardNovember 20212023Active
537宜兴 / YixingCity of YixingHudong-Zhonghua23 December 2021January 2023Active
551巴彦淖尔市 / Bayannao'erCity of Bayannao'erHuangpu Shipyard23 December 2021December 2022Active

See also

References

Citations
Bibliography

External links

Notes and References

  1. Wertheim . Eric . June 2020 . China's Multipurpose FFG . Proceedings . 146 . 6 . U.S. Naval Institute . 0041798X.
  2. Schwartz (2015): page 28
  3. Jane's Fighting Ships (2015): page 144
  4. Willett (2019): page 24
  5. Willett (2019): page 26
  6. Web site: Tate . Andrew . China launches 32nd Type 054A frigate for PLAN . 10 August 2021 . 10 February 2022.
  7. Collins et al. (2014): page 2
  8. Jane's Fighting Ships (2015): page 142
  9. Kirchberger (2015): page 197
  10. Kirchberger (2015): page 208
  11. Kirchberger (2015): page 191
  12. Web site: Tate . Andrew . China adding towed sonars to Type 054A, Type 056 vessels . 31 August 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140901091325/http://www.janes.com/article/42550/china-adding-towed-sonars-to-type-054a-type-056-vessels . 1 September 2014 . 10 February 2022.
  13. Web site: Collins . Gabe . How Much Do China's Warships Actually Cost? . 18 June 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170216045139/http://thediplomat.com/2015/06/how-much-do-chinas-warships-actually-cost/ . 16 February 2017 . 10 February 2022.
  14. Web site: Grevatt . Jon . China offers Type 054 to meet Thai frigate requirement . 30 January 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130607150716/http://www.janes.com/products/janes/defence-security-report.aspx?ID=1065975734&channel=defence&subChannel=business . 7 June 2013 . 24 November 2018.
  15. Web site: Rahmat . Ridzwan . DSME launches Thailand's first multipurpose frigate . 23 January 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170124182358/http://www.janes.com/article/67140/dsme-launches-thailand-s-first-multipurpose-frigate . 24 January 2017 . 24 November 2018.
  16. Web site: Dominguez. Gabriel . Pakistan Navy commissions its first of four Type 054A/P frigates . Janes . 9 November 2021 . 9 February 2022.
  17. United States Navy Office of Naval Intelligence . Office of Naval Intelligence . 2015 . PLA Navy Identification Guide . 6 June 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150505000919/http://www.oni.navy.mil/Intelligence_Community/china_media/posters/PLA_Navy_Identification_Guide.pdf . 5 May 2015 .
  18. Web site: "徐州舰"正式命名入列 命名授旗仪式在舟山举行 . zh . 29 January 2008 . . 徐州日报 . 12 August 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20151223012633/http://military.people.com.cn/GB/42963/53000/6836603.html . 23 December 2015 . live .
  19. Web site: 中国海军529"舟山"号导弹护卫舰_新浪图集_新浪网. 6 May 2021. slide.mil.news.sina.com.cn.
  20. Jane's Fighting Ships, 2023-24 Edition, ISBN 978-0-7106-3428 3, page 146.
  21. Web site: Plan Huangshan 570 - Imo 4522874 .
  22. Web site: PLAN ships call at Portsmouth . Tate . Andrew . 13 January 2015 . IHS Jane's 360 . 5 August 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150509095822/http://www.janes.com/article/47879/plan-ships-call-at-portsmouth . 9 May 2015 .
  23. Web site: Simultaneous international drills show growing PLAN confidence . Tate . Andrew . 28 May 2015 . IHS Jane's 360 . 5 August 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150720023255/http://www.janes.com/article/51832/simultaneous-international-drills-show-growing-plan-confidence . 20 July 2015 .
  24. Web site: China sends destroyer, frigate to Iran in sign of growing naval ties . Rahmat . Ridzwan . Fisher . Richard D Jr . 21 September 2014 . IHS Jane's 360 . 5 August 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150913194858/http://www.janes.com/article/43499/china-sends-destroyer-frigate-to-iran-in-sign-of-growing-naval-ties . 13 September 2015 .
  25. Web site: Chinese special mission aircraft cross Okinawa into West Pacific . Yeo . Mike . Streetly . Martin . 8 December 2014 . IHS Jane's 360 . 5 August 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150629114416/http://www.janes.com/article/46786/chinese-special-mission-aircraft-cross-okinawa-into-west-pacific . 29 June 2015 .
  26. Web site: US announces, then 'clarifies' B-1 deployment to Australia, ramps up South China Sea rhetoric . Hardy . James . 14 May 2015 . IHS Jane's 360 . 5 August 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150718121415/http://www.janes.com/article/51461/us-announces-then-clarifies-b-1-deployment-to-australia-ramps-up-south-china-sea-rhetoric . 18 July 2015 .
  27. Web site: USCG's fourth National Security Cutter passes acceptance trials as fifth vessel is named . Jean . Grace . 20 August 2014 . IHS Jane's 360 . 5 August 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140904195541/http://www.janes.com/article/42136/uscg-s-fourth-national-security-cutter-passes-acceptance-trials-as-fifth-vessel-is-named . 4 September 2014 .
  28. Web site: China sends 19th naval escort piracy task force to Somalia . Weening . Cornelius . 2 December 2014 . IHS Jane's 360 . 5 August 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150926154538/http://www.janes.com/article/46631/china-sends-19th-naval-escort-piracy-task-force-to-somalia . 26 September 2015 .
  29. Web site: Newly-commissioned main battle ships of PLAN in 2013 . Zhang . Tao . 30 December 2013 . mod.gov.cn . China Military Online . 5 August 2015 .
  30. Web site: China commissions Type 054A frigate into East Sea Fleet . Rahmat . Ridzwan . 20 January 2015 . IHS Jane's 360 . 5 August 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150925121450/http://www.janes.com/article/48139/china-commissions-type-054a-frigate-into-east-sea-fleet . 25 September 2015 .
  31. Web site: China adding towed sonars to Type 054A, Type 056 vessels . Tate . Andrew . 31 August 2014 . IHS Jane's 360 . 5 August 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150608161206/http://www.janes.com/article/42550/china-adding-towed-sonars-to-type-054a-type-056-vessels . 8 June 2015 .
  32. Web site: Tate . Andrew . 21 July 2015 . China commissions second Type 052D DDG, pushes ahead with frigate, corvette launches . IHS Jane's Defence Weekly . https://web.archive.org/web/20150722222900/http://www.janes.com/article/53139/china-commissions-second-type-052d-ddg-pushes-ahead-with-frigate-corvette-launches . 2015-07-22.
  33. Web site: 导弹护卫舰荆州舰,舷号532 - 米粒分享网-MI6FX.COM. 5 May 2021. www.mi6fx.com. 5 May 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210505145854/https://www.mi6fx.com/sgcb9lsg9lllwg5inbsg4ijbfgvidbfg4i6isgilwbfgvidb9yfgviilsgriilhyoywy.html.
  34. Web site: 新531湘潭舰的前世今生 - 中国军网. 5 May 2021. www.81.cn. 9 March 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160309103228/http://www.81.cn/jkhc/2016-03/08/content_6948013.htm.
  35. Web site: China commissions 23rd Type 054A frigate into East Sea Fleet . Rahmat . Ridzwan . 30 December 2016 . IHS Jane's 360 . 28 March 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170101001143/http://www.janes.com/article/66605/china-commissions-23rd-type-054a-frigate-into-east-sea-fleet . 1 January 2017 .
  36. Web site: Another Jiangkai II-class frigate enters service with the Chinese navy . Tate . Andrew . 26 June 2017 . IHS Jane's 360 . 27 June 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180104100737/http://www.janes.com/article/71766/another-jiangkai-ii-class-frigate-enters-service-with-the-chinese-navy . 4 January 2018 .
  37. Web site: Chinese navy commissions 25th Jiangkai II-class frigate . Tate . Andrew . 30 June 2017 . IHS Jane's 360 . 30 June 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170630193237/http://www.janes.com/article/71941/chinese-navy-commissions-25th-jiangkai-ii-class-frigate . 30 June 2017 .
  38. Web site: 安阳市政府网站. 5 May 2021. www.anyang.gov.cn. 17 January 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190117014101/http://www.anyang.gov.cn/sitegroup/root/html/00000000361142360136385855fe2882/20190114145188506.html.
  39. Web site: 新一艘054A护卫舰入列中国海军 命名咸宁舰舷号500_军事新闻 - 德州新闻网. 5 May 2021. www.dennischia.com.
  40. Jane's Fighting Ships, 2023-24 Edition, ISBN 978-0-7106-3428 3, page 146.
  41. Web site: 两代南通舰,见证南通和人民海军的两段"姻缘"_我苏网. 5 May 2021. www.ourjiangsu.com.
  42. Web site: 第30艘054A型护卫舰:542枣庄号服役北海舰队,通过全训形成战斗力_海军. 6 May 2021. www.sohu.com. en. 6 May 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210506184846/https://www.sohu.com/a/387559546_100122108.