China’s People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) has officially commissioned its first Type 054B frigate, ‘LUOHE’ (Hull No 545) into service.

The 5,500-ton-class warship was commissioned at a naval port in Qingdao, East China's Shandong Province. The Chinese Type 054B is a new generation of frigate independently developed and built in China and is a significant upgrade over its predecessor, the Type 054A.

The Type 054B is notably larger than the Type 054A, with an estimated length of 147-150m compared to the 134m of its predecessor. The beam has also increased from 16 meters on the Type 054A to approximately 17-18 meters on the Type 054B. This size increase translates to a significant jump in displacement, with the Type 054B estimated to displace between 5,500 to 6,000 tons at full load, a substantial increase from the Type 054A's 4,000-ton displacement.

The Type 054B features breakthroughs in stealth technology, combat command systems and firepower integrated control, among other aspects, significantly enhancing its performances, said Xinhua.

A significant upgrade on the Type 054B is its sensor suite. The new frigate features a prominent dual face rotating Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar on the main mast, a substantial improvement over the Type 054A's radar systems. This advanced radar system is expected to greatly enhance the ship's detection and tracking capabilities for air and surface threats. Both frigate classes incorporate stealth features, but the Type 054B takes this a step further. It features an enclosed bow and an integrated mast to reduce radar cross-sections, resembling design elements from the French FREMM-class frigate.

Both frigates share some commonalities in their armament, but the Type 054B introduces several enhancements. Both types feature a 32-cell vertical launch system (VLS), but the Type 054B is equipped with a more advanced Universal Vertical Launch System. The main gun has been upgraded from a 76mm on the Type 054A to a 100mm gun on the Type 054B, likely a modified variant of the H/PJ-87.The Type 054B maintains the use of YJ-12 anti-ship cruise missiles, similar to its predecessor, but with potential improvements in targeting and range. For close-in defense, the newer frigate employs the H/PJ-11 11-barrel 30mm Gatling gun and an HQ-10 SAM launcher. Lastly, the frigate can carry bigger Chinese utility helicopters such as the Z-20.

The new vessel was launched in 2023 and will be produced in at least as many numbers as the Type 054A. 

(Pictured is the PLAN Type-054A guided missile frigate Wuhu (Hull 539) under the Chinese PLA Northern Theater Command. eng.chinamil.com.cn/Photo by Ma Yubin)

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