China’s New Type 054B Frigates Break Cover At Two Shipyards

[alimobin memon]

?
054B has double-sided active phased array radar.



BTW:
Active phased array radar has now been popularized in China for civilian equipment due to a significant drop in cost. The Chinese are now making extensive use of active phased-array radar to repel wild boar.
In a few years, maybe we'll be installing active phased array radar on kids' toys.

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10:40

Pakistani ships have pesa or aesa ? Cause I read they have 50 to 100km range against 0.1 m^2

 

[FuturePAF]

HQ26 is a much improved and upgraded version of HQ16.
HQ19 is a much improved and upgraded version of HQ9.
The HHQ26 is the naval version of the HQ26.

Don't worry, the HHQ26 doesn't have those drawbacks of the HHQ16 and it has a range of over 400 kilometers. In terms of radar system, HHQ26 uses active single-pulse radar system, it also adopts the Beidou satellite system for precision guidance.
For the identification of jamming bombs, in addition to the Beidou satellite guidance, the HHQ26 has a long-wave infrared imaging guide, which is able to clearly identify the jamming bombs.

A 400 Km range HQ-16 derivative? Any picture of the missile? Is it a further development of the HQ-16FE? Does this mean the Type 054B will use the UVLS or a VLS similar to the one on the Type 054A?

 

[LKJ86]

Not enough. For 6000 tones it should have more firepower.

If so, China can build more Type 052D DDG, as it is about 7000 tons.

We should pay attention to Type 054B's anti-submarine capability.

 

[MH.Yang]

In addition to the two type 054B, there are now 10 type 052DL and 2 type 055 being built at the same time.

These two type 055 are the first and second ships of the second batch of type 055 and they are likely to have major upgrades.

Not enough. For 6000 tones it should have more firepower.

054B is an anti-submarine ship.

 

[Muji.Iqbal]

Great News. How do these frigates compare with American, Russian, and Japanese frigates?

 

[Bilal9]

The 054B is only 6,000 tons.

dude, cheer up, at least it has phased array radar

054A and B models, "B" in foreground.

 

[FuturePAF]

In addition to the two type 054B, there are now 10 type 052DL and 2 type 055 being built at the same time.

These two type 055 are the first and second ships of the second batch of type 055 and they are likely to have major upgrades.


054B is an anti-submarine ship.

10 Type 052DL is a considerable number. This indicates that one those are built, building 10 Type 054B won’t be an issue in the same space of time, and we might see two dozen Type 054B in the PLAN ORBAT by the end of the decade.

If the Type 054B’s hanger is large enough for two Z-20 helicopters, the PLAN will probably, IMHO, soon start looking at ASW tilt-rotor UAV. The Bell V-247 for example has the endurance (350 nautical miles?) and can reach the altitude to maintain 24/7 coverage with only two platforms, and it can carry Sonar bouys and torpedos.

Bell V-247 Vigilant - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

 

[StraightEdge]

China's Evolving Frigate Force - by Alexander S (substack.com)

 

[LKJ86]

Via @羽麟军-小小狐狸酱 from Weibo

 

[FuturePAF]

The 054B is only 6,000 tons.

dude, cheer up, at least it has phased array radar

Can you confirm the stats from this video about the performance of the radar and that the missile will be the navalized version of the HQ-16F with the 160 Km range fired from a UVLS cell similar to the cells on the Type 052DL and not the Type 054A.

 

[jhungary]

China’s New Type 054B Frigates Break Cover At Two Shipyards​

New imagery confirms that production of the next generation frigate for the Chinese Navy (PLAN) is now underway at both Hudong in Shanghai and Huangpu Wenchong in Guangzhou.​

Alex Luck 15 Jul 2023


Type 054B frigate (on the left) at Huangpu Wenchong shipyard in Guangzhou. Picture via Twitter user @sugar_wsnbn

These shipyards were previously responsible for the construction of the immediate predecessor, the Type 054A frigate, of which at least 40 units have been produced to date for PLAN. Four more modified Type 054A were built at Hudong for Pakistan. Both Hudong and Huangpu have also produced a modified Type 054A adapted for use by the Chinese Coast Guard, referred to as Type 818, and continue to build a newer re-designed variant with as yet to be confirmed designation.

The new frigate, typically referred to as Type 054B, is despite its designation a wholly redesigned warship that is both longer and wider than the existing Type 054. Estimated to have a length of around 147 meters and a beam of 18 meters, its displacement will likely be around 6,000 tons, and as such about 2,000 tons heavier than 054A.

Armament and other subsystems are yet to be confirmed, but will include a VLS and very likely a new double-sided rotating active electronically scanned array-radar (AESA) on the main mast. Apart from the basic dimensions the new images also confirm structural differences in configuration over 054A.

Type 054B frigate at Huangpu Wenchong shipyard in Guangzhou. Picture via Twitter user @horobeyo.

The Type 054B feature a bulkier superstructure and a bridge set higher. A close in weapon system (CIWS), likely a H/PJ-11 11-barrel 30 mm autocannon is placed ahead of the bridge in an overall similar configuration to Type 052D- and Type 055-destroyers.

The main gun will likely be a 76 mm H/PJ-26, also in use on Type 054A and the smaller Type 056/A-corvettes. The configuration and type of the vertical launch missile system (VLS) remains to be confirmed, although 32 cells seem plausible. Reasonably the new ship should see adaption of the new Z-20 ASW- and naval utility helicopter, replacing the lighter and less capable Z-9 in use on Type 054A.

The Type 054B frigate under construction at Huangpu has already been painted and launch appears likely in the next few months. The second hull at Hudong was floated out of the drydock in the beginning of June to make way for a civilian cargo vessel getting launched, but then returned into dock for further work. Nevertheless both Type 054B should see launch well before the end of the year.

Sighting of further modules at Hudong also suggests that construction of additional frigates is already underway.

Unpainted Type 054B frigate temporarily launched at Hudong shipyard in Shanghai (but then re-docked). Picture by Twitter use @sugar_wsnbn.

In conclusion PLAN appears to be well set up to transition from the large scale production of Type 054A, which by now has established itself as a workhorse for the Chinese Navy. The new Type 054B will likely serve to provide significant further capability, especially for anti-submarine (ASW) warfare, building on the already very substantial capacity available through the numerous Type 054A – and Type 056A – fleets.

China's New Type 054B Frigates Break Cover at two Shipyards - Naval News

Production of the Type 054B next generation frigate for the Chinese Navy (PLAN) is now well underway at two different shipyards...

www.navalnews.com

Thew issue here is not whether or not Chinese Type 054B are more advance than FFGX (which is impossible to know as no FFGX was built yet). The issue here is where do you put it and how it work with the existing destroyer squadron. Because Frigate are supposed to be a jack of all trade companion for destroyer at sea.

As someone already pointed out,. 32 VLS probably not going to be enough for this role, because unlike the US Navy, where an Arleigh Burke have 90 cell (96 on later version) VLS and sub hunting is done with Romeo Hawk, which both are something Chinese don't have, as China do not have a good, dedicated platform for ASW and Chinese destroyer are only ~70 cell. Which mean there are going to be capability gap between the two.

 

[LKJ86]

As someone already pointed out,. 32 VLS probably not going to be enough for this role, because unlike the US Navy, where an Arleigh Burke have 90 cell (96 on later version) VLS and sub hunting is done with Romeo Hawk, which both are something Chinese don't have, as China do not have a good, dedicated platform for ASW and Chinese destroyer are only ~70 cell. Which mean there are going to be capability gap between the two.

Why do you confuse PLAN nowadays with PLAN in near future?
Type 054B is good enough for PLAN in near future.

 

[jhungary]

Why do you confuse PLAN nowadays with PLAN in near future?
Type 054B is good enough for PLAN in near future.

No, i am talking about 054B/052D combo, that's what you get in the near future.

 

[LKJ86]

No, i am talking about 054B/052D combo, that's what you get in the near future.

Why do you think China won't build a large number of Type 055 in near futue?

 

[jhungary]

Why do you think China won't build a large number of Type 055 in near futue?

"NEAR" future, so no. You probably would still be building Type 055/Type 052D in near future, unless by "near: future you mean in 25-30 years, that's not near future in my definition