Type 054B frigate
Class of Chinese guided-missile frigates
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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 ft 3 in) 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]
The Chinese PLA Navy's first Type 054B guided-missile frigate Luohe (Hull 545) during her commissioning ceremony | |
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Builders | |
| Operators |  People's Liberation Army Navy |
| Preceded by | Type 054A frigate |
| Building | 2[1][2] |
| Active | 2 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Frigate |
| Displacement | Estimated 5,500 to 6,000 tons (full)[3] |
| Length | Around 150 m (490 ft) (estimated)[3] |
| Beam | Around 17 m (56 ft) (estimated)[3] |
| Propulsion | CODAD, 4 × CS16V27 diesels, 29.12 MW (39,050 hp) total, 2 shafts[4] |
| Speed | 28 knots[4] |
| Range | 5,000 nautical miles (5,800 mi; 9,300 km)[4] |
| Armament | |
| Aircraft carried | 1x Harbin Z-20 family helicopter[6] |
| Aviation facilities | Hangar |
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]
Design
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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 number | Name | Namesake | Builder | Launched | Commissioned | Fleet | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 545[12] | 漯河 / Luohe[12] | City of Luohe | Hudong-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 Qinzhou | Huangpu Shipyard[12] | October 29, 2023[11][14] | Announced April 12, 2025, official commission date unknown[14][18] | South Sea Fleet[14][18] | Active |
See also
Equivalent frigates of the same era