Preceded by Type 054 frigate Cost ¥ 1.58 billion | Subclasses Type 054A
Type 054A+ Building 5 as of May 2015 | |
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Builders Hudong-Zhonghua Shipyard
Huangpu Shipyard Operators People's Liberation Army Navy Surface Force | ||
The Type 054A (NATO codename Jiangkai II) frigate is a class of Chinese multi-role frigates, the first of which entered service with the People's Liberation Army Navy Surface Force in 2007. The class is planned to comprise 24+ vessels. As of 2016, 23 are in service, 1 is undergoing sea trial, 1 is fitting out, and 2 are under construction. It is a development of the Type 054 frigate, using the same hull but with improved sensors and weapons.
Contents
The Type 054A was first revealed while under construction at the Guangzhou-based Huangpu Shipyard in 2005.
Improvements over Type 054
The Type 054A carries HQ-16 medium-range air defence missiles and various anti submarine rockets in a VLS system. The HQ-16 provides area air defence from all engagement angles up to a range of 50 km, a considerable improvement over the HQ-7 carried on the Type 054 which have inferior range and limited engagement angles. Contrary to HQ-9 VLS on Type 052C destroyer which adopts a cold launch method, HQ-16 appears to adopt a hot launch method instead, with the same design principle of US Mk 41 VLS: a shared common exhaust system is sited between the two rows of rectangular launching tubes.The VLS system is also capable of firing anti-submarine missiles.
The 4 AK-630 close-in weapon systems (CIWS) of the Type 054 were replaced with 2 Type 730 CIWS on the Type 054A. The autonomous Type 730 provides improved reaction time against close-in threats.
The 100 mm main gun on earlier Type 054 class is replaced by H/PJ26 stealthy 76 mm dual purpose gun mount, which is a Chinese development of Russian AK-176. The adoption of smaller caliber gun is the result of the need of higher rate of fire for air defense, including sea-skimming anti-ship missiles. H/PJ26 utilizes advanced synthetic material such as fiber glass to a much greater degree than the original AK-176, resulting in over 30% of weight reduction to 11.5 ton of H/PJ26, as opposed to the 16.8+ tons of AK-176.
Another improvement of Type 054A over the original Type 054 (as well other older ships in the People's Liberation Army Navy) is its information systems (IS) for maintenance and inventory control, which automatically provides information to shore based facilities or supply ships on the parts in need, to the last detail, so that parts in need can be provided more quickly. The resulting down time due to maintenance & repair is reduced to a fraction of what it is for older vessels without this IS system. The Chinese have termed this IS for maintenance and inventory control another force multiplier because it increased availability for deployment by reducing downtime.
The Type 054A retains its predecessor's stealth features, including sloped hull design, radar absorbent materials, and a clean profile.
Type 054A+
An improved variant beginning with the 18th unit launched from Huangpu Shipyard in 2009 has the 7-barrelled Type 730 CIWS replaced by the more capable 11-barrelled Type 1130, and is unofficially referred as Type 54A+. Another reported improvement over the original Type 054A includes the incorporation of variable depth sonar and towed array sonar.
Operations
Type 054A frigate made first operational deployment to Gulf of Aden, when FFG-570 Huangshan set sail as part of 2nd Escort Flotilla/Task Group 167 on 2 April 2009, the Escort Flotilla arrive there on 13 April 2009, and take over form 1st Escort Flotilla/Task Group 169 on 15 April 2009. Since then 11 type 054A have deployed to Gulf of Aden for anti-piracy operations.
In the lead-up to the Libyan civil war, the FFG-530 Xuzhou was deployed from anti-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden to help evacuate Chinese nationals from Libya.
In January 2014, the FFG-546 Yancheng was redeployed from anti-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden to the eastern Mediterranean Sea to escort Syrian chemical weapons destined for destruction.
Export
According to an estimate by The Diplomat, Type 054A frigates have a per-unit cost of USD$348 million.
Thailand
In Feb 2013, China offered to sell Thailand 3 customized 054A frigates ("054T") for 30 billion Thai baht ($1 billion USD) total. However, in April 2013 it was reported that South Korea had won the Royal Thai navy's frigate bid with 1 modified Gwanggaeto the Great-class destroyers at 13 billion Thai baht each.
Russia
In Early 2015, it was reported that Russia might consider buying 054A for its navy.
Malaysia
According to a news report at LIMA 2015, the Royal Malaysian Navy will buy the C28A corvette export variant of the Chinese multi-role warship.