Type 054B frigate
Builders
Class beforeType 054A frigate
Total ships building2[1][2]
Total ships active2
Type 054B frigate
Frigate
DisplacementEstimated 5,500 to 6,000 tons (full)[3]
LengthAround 150 m (490 ft) (estimated)[3]
BeamAround 17 m (56 ft) (estimated)[3]
PropulsionCODAD, 4 × CS16V27 diesels, 29.12 MW (39,050 hp) total, 2 shafts[4]
Speed28 knots[4]
Range5,000 nautical miles (5,800 mi; 9,300 km)[4]
Armament
Aircraft1x Harbin Z-20 family helicopter[6]
Aircraft facilitiesHangar

The Type 054B (NATO/OSD Jiangkai III)[7] is a class of multirole guided-missile frigate of the People's Republic of China.[8] It is a development of the Type 054A frigate, and is around 15 m (49 ft) longer and 1 m (3.3 ft) wider than its predecessor.[3][9][6] Compared to the Type 054A frigate, the extra length allows the Type 054B frigate to install SAM-based CIWS along with the gun-based CIWS, a heavier main gun and carry a heavier helicopter.[3][6] The sensors are also upgraded, including a new radar.[6][3] The Type 054AG frigate, the latest variant of the Type 054A, has some similarities with the Type 054B, including the main gun and helicopter.[3][10]

History and development

In the 2010s, Chinese military observers speculated a successor design to Type 054A frigate, designated Type 054B or Type 057. In the early 2020s, more confident intelligence suggested the successor to Type 054A would be the Type 054B. The first two hulls were laid down in 2022 at the Hudong shipyard and the Huangpu shipyard in Shanghai and launched in 2023.[11] The first frigate, Luohe was commissioned on 22 January 2025 at Qingdao.[12][13]

The second ship in its class, Qinzhou, was secretly commissioned, with its existence confirmed on April 12, 2025.[14] No further units of this design seem to be envisaged, with construction reverting to the Type 054AG design.

Design

The Type 054B is longer and wider than the Type 054A. A dual-face rotating AESA radar is mounted on the top of the forward integrated mast.[3][6][15] The stern has a panel for variable depth sonar and ports for deploying towed sonars and decoys.[6]

Armament includes a 100mm H/PJ-87 main gun, a 32-cell vertical launching system (H/AKJ-16), a Type 1130 11-barrel 30mm close in weapon system, and a HHQ-10 air defense missile launcher.[3][15][16][6]

The helicopter pad is large enough to accommodate the Harbin Z-20.[3][15]

Ships of class

Pennant numberNameNamesakeBuilderLaunchedCommissionedFleetStatus
545[12]漯河 / Luohe[12]City of LuoheHudong-Zhonghua Shipyard[12]August 26, 2023[9][14]January 22, 2025[12]North Sea Fleet[12]Active
555[17]钦州 / Qinzhou[17]City of QinzhouHuangpu Shipyard[12]October 29, 2023[11][14]April 23, 2025[14][18]South Sea Fleet[14][18]Active

See also

Equivalent frigates of the same era

References

  1. ^ "China constructs fourth Jiangkai III frigate". Janes. 8 April 2026. Archived 8 April 2026 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 8 April 2026.
  2. ^ Vavasseur, Xavier (22 January 2026). "Satellite image shows China’s third Type 054B under construction". Janes. Retrieved 22 January 2026.
  3. ^ Luck, Alex (22 January 2025). "Chinese Navy Commissions First Type 054B Next Gen Frigate". Naval News. Retrieved 22 January 2025.
  4. ^ "China deploys 5,000-ton torpedo frigate to hunt US nuclear submarines in open seas". Interesting Engineering
  5. ^ "China commissions improved frigates and destroyers". Asian Military Review. 26 January 2026. Archived February 25, 2026 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved March 20, 2026.
  6. ^ "China's Jiangkai III-Class Frigate Takes the Stage". Proceedings. United States Naval Institute. March 2025. Archived 20 April 2025 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 9 April 2026.
  7. ^ "PLAN 2024 Identification Guide". Office of Naval Intelligence
  8. ^ "China reveals enhanced sensors, ASW role for Type 054B frigate". Janes. 6 April 2026. Archived 6 April 2026 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 6 April 2026.
  9. ^ Luck, Alex (29 August 2023). "First New Generation Frigate For Chinese Navy Launched In Shanghai". navalnews.com
  10. ^ "Type 054AG: the new ASW frigate of the Chinese Navy". Meta-Defense.fr. January 12, 2026. Retrieved April 8, 2026.
  11. ^ Fanell, James E. (May 2024). "Another Historic Year for the PLA Navy". USNI News
  12. ^ Rahmat, Ridzwan (23 January 2025). "China commissions first Type 054B frigate". Janes. Retrieved 23 January 2025.
  13. ^ Li Jiayao (ed.). "China's first Type 054B frigate Luohe commissioned". Ministry of National Defense of China. Xinhuanet. Retrieved 2025-01-29.
  14. ^ "中国海军第二艘054B型导弹护卫舰 在南中国海实战化训练". Lianhe Zaobao
  15. ^ Newdick, Thomas (28 August 2023). "This Is China’s New Type 054B Frigate, Could Become Backbone Of Navy". The War Zone
  16. ^ 新舰砺刃！054B护卫舰首舰漯河舰最新画面发布！现场火力全开！ [The new ships weapons! Type 054B frigate Luohe conducts live fire exercise!] (Video) (in Chinese). CCTV-7. 2025-03-17. Retrieved 2025-03-18. – via YouTube.
  17. ^ "钦州舰，报到！新一艘054B型护卫舰南海实战化训练". Xinhua. 2025-05-05.
  18. ^ "海報藏玄機　054B型導彈艦「一南一北」護航雙航母". HK01