Type 054 frigate
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In late 2002 China began construction of a new frigate, the Type 054 (NATO Codename JIANGKAI I). The first ship was No. 525 Ma'anshan, and the first captain of this first ship of the class is Commander Wang Xianzhong (王獻忠). Western analysts assumed that ship class would be named after the first ship (Ma'anshan). However by 2006, the Type 054 Frigate has been classified as the Jiangkai Class Frigate.
The Type 054 is successor to the Jiangwei and Jianghu class frigates of the People's Liberation Army Navy. It has been compared to the French La Fayette class frigate. The 3,400 ton (estimated) Type 054 incorporates some stealth features: sloped hull design; radar absorbent materials; and reduction of surface equipment and features.
The main weapon is two four-cell launchers with the YJ-83 sea-skimming anti-ship cruise missile. It also has an eight-cell launcher with the HQ-7 SAM, which is an improved version of the French Crotale missile. There is a helicopter flight deck at the stern. It also has a 100mm main gun and four AK-630 CIWS turrets
Main propulsion is two advanced French SEMT Pielstick diesel engines.
Two Type 054 Frigates were built, the 525 Ma'anshan, and 526 Wenzhou. In late 2005, it was revealed that an even newer design ship was under construction, similar to the Type 054, but with American Mk. 48 style 32-cel VLS and Type 730 CIWS gun. The new ship has been speculated to be Type 054A. [1] However since the ships are still under construction, the exact configuration and weapons load is unknown.
[edit] Specifications
- Length: ~125 m estimated
- Width: 15 to 16 m estimated
- Beam: 15 to 16 m estimated
- Displacement: 3,000 to 3,900 tonnes estimated
- Propulsion: Combined diesel and diesel (CODAD):
- 2 French SEMT Pielstick diesels, 21,000 hp
- 2 MTU Friedrichshafen 20V 956TB92, 8,840 hp
- Maximum speed: 25 to 30 kts estimated
- Range: 7,000 nm estimated
- Sensors:
- Type 363S (Thomson-CSF DRBV-15 Sea Tiger) 2D air/surface radar, E/F band
- MR-36A surface search radar, I-band
- Type 345 Radar (Thomson-CSF Castor-II) fire-control radar for HQ-7 SAM, I/J band
- Type MR34 fire-control radar for 100mm gun
- 2 Type 347G (EFR-1) Rice Lamp fire control radar for AK-630 CIWS guns, I-band
- 2 Racal RM-1290 navigation radar, I-band
- Type 922-1 radar warning receiver
- HZ-100 ECM & ELINT system
- ZKJ-4B/6 (developed from Thomson-CSF TAVITAC) combat data system
- Data link: HN-900 (Chinese equivalent of Link 11A/B, to be upgraded)
- Communication: SNTI-240 SATCOM
- Armament:
- Aviation:
- One Kamov Ka-28 Helix or Harbin Z-9C
[edit] Comparison with La Fayette
The 054 Frigate resembles the French La Fayette Frigate externally. The two ships also have similar size and displacement. Some notable similarities include:
- Propulsion:
- Type 054: CODAD config with 2x SEMT Pielstick 21,000 hp + 2x MTU 8,840 hp
- La Fayette: CODAD config with 4x SEMT Pielstick 21,000 hp
- Radar:
- Type 054: Type 363S, based on Thomson-CSF DRBV-15 Sea Tiger Radar
- La Fayette: Thales (Thomson-CSF) DRBV-15C Sea Tiger Mk2
- Fire Control:
- Type 054: Type 345, based on Thomson-CSF Castor II
- La Fayette: Thales (Thomson-CSF) Castor 2J
- Combat Management System:
- Type 054: ZKJ-4B/6, developed from Thomson-CSF TAVITAC
- La Fayette: Thales (Thomson-CSF) TACITAC 2000 (Successor to TAVITAC)
- Main gun:
- Type 054: Type 210 100mm gun based on French Creusot-Loire T100C
- La Fayette: DCN 100mm TR
- SAM:
- Type 054: HQ-7 SAM, based on Sea Crotale SAM
- La Fayette: Crotale VT1
China imported many weapon systems from France in the 1980s, and obtained license production. Today many systems utilized on the Type 054 Frigate are based on French systems that were used on the La Fayette in 1980s. A comparison with the latest La Fayette frigate equipment shows that the French have upgraded them to newer versions in 1990s, so the PLAN's 054's systems are one generation behind the French navy. It's also possible that the PLAN has upgraded these systems to match the latest French versions.
