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Chinese frigates of type 054B mature for serial construction
Author:Mariusz Dasiewicz
China is clearly speeding up the construction of a frigate of type 054B, as evidenced by the new pictures of 11 August, on which you can see the following units formed in parallel in two shipyards. Moreover, the next series may receive more vertical launcher chambers (VLS).
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The new photos were highlighted by the Brazilian portal Poder Naval. Photographs from Huangpu Wenchong shipyard in Canton and earlier Hudong-Zhonghua satellite photos in Shanghai show the progress of construction of further frigates of type 054B. The possible changes in the configuration of their weapons and electronic equipment are also paying attention.
The first pair opened the way to a larger series
Prototype Luohe was launched in Shanghai in August 2023. A little over two months later, a second ship was launched at Huangpu Wenchong shipyard in Canton, a later one. Qinzhou. After launching the first pair for a long time there was no confirmed information about subsequent units, while both ships were undergoing trials and preparations for service.
Luohe, bearing the side number 545, entered service on 22 January 2025. The Chinese Ministry of Defence then declared the buoyancy of about 5000 tonnes and identified 054B as a next generation frigate, pointing, among other things, to changes in ship architecture, command and control systems and arms.
Type 054B does not, however, mean a complete break with the solutions applied to previous frigates 054A. The Chinese retained some of the proven systems, but placed them on a distinctly larger hull, leaving space and buoyancy for further development of the structure.
It is on subsequent units that today the first signs of the use of this reserve appear.
Possible 48 chambers instead of 32
The most interest is the weapons placed on the forward deck. The first two Type 054B frigates received a vertical H/AKJ-16 launcher with 32 chambers, located in four modules of eight. These are designed for, among other things, HQ-16 anti-aircraft missiles and YU-8 rocket torpedoes. The same describes the configuration of the first 054B ZBiAM.
However, six modules in eight chambers are seen in the latest satellite photos. If the interpretation of the photograph is correct, subsequent ships could therefore receive 48 vertical launcher chambers, which is halving more than the first pair.
However, this cannot yet be considered as confirmed information. Available photographs do not show the entire bow deck at an angle that allows to clearly determine the launcher configuration, and the Chinese Navy has not officially reported the change.
The number of chambers alone also does not prejudge the capabilities of the ship. If the H/AKJ-16 system remains on the next frigates, the change will primarily mean increasing the supply of transferred missiles and rocket torpedoes. On the other hand, it will not make type 054B comparable to much larger types 052D and 055 destroyers.
However, the expansion of the launcher from 32 to 48 chambers would increase the supply of ready-to-use weapons, which is important during long-term activities away from its own bases.
A larger hull gives a spare for further development
A possible increase in the number of chambers draws attention to one of the most important differences between types 054A and 054B.
Type 054A frigates are approximately 134 metres long and 16 metres wide. Hull dimensions 054B are approximately 147 × 18 metres. So the new type is not only longer, but also significantly wider.
However, the additional space and buoyancy reserves do not merely serve to increase the number of launcher chambers. The larger hull allows you to take more fuel and supplies, gives you more space for gym equipment and electronic equipment, as well as improves the living conditions of the crew during a long-term sea trip.
It also allows to expand systems designed to combat submarines and aircraft facilities. From this point of view, the possible extension of the H/AKJ-16 launcher by two further eight-chamber modules looks more like the use of a reserve of space and buoyancy provided for in a larger hull rather than a reconstruction forced by the shortages of the first ships.
Changes in architecture and electronic equipment
The differences between 054A and 054B are also well seen in ship architecture. Chinese constructors paid more attention to limiting the effective radiolocation field (SPO).
On board the forward anchor and mooring devices are placed below the deck and completely built. The closed anchor hatch was also used and the air intakes – except for the gym – were covered with panels.
These solutions serve to further reduce SPOs and thus hinder ship detection and classification. Not only the shape of the superstructures, but also the way in which ventilation vents, anchorages and other deck equipment are built, are important.
The equipment of masts has also changed considerably. Used on the 054A three-coordinated H/LJQ-382 radio-location station replaced the new antenna assembly consisting of two wall antennas set back to each other on the main mast. On the aft mast is another radio-location station, placed under a transparent radio shield.
The detailed parameters of these devices have not been disclosed and information on the scopes of detection and traceability of targets should be taken with caution.
Combating submarines an important task of type 054B
The larger hull also allowed to expand the air base. The hangar and aircraft deck were adapted to base the Z-20 family helicopter, much larger than the Z-9 used on earlier Chinese frigates. This is particularly important in combating submarines, as the helicopter allows you to search for a target at a considerable distance from your own ship.
The frigates also have a hydrolocation system including hull sonar and towed. The submarines complement light torpedo launchers and YU-8 rocket torpedoes launched from a vertical launcher.
These capabilities may be of particular importance during the cover of aerodrome groups. In May Luohe She went out to the West Pacific with an aircraft carrier Liaoning. The group observed by Japan also included type 055 and 052D destroyers and supply ship Hulunhu.
Presence Luohe in an aerodrome group the core of which was Liaoning, may indicate the role of frigates of type 054B. For destroyers of types 055 and 052D, with much more air defense capabilities, the frigate may focus primarily on combating submarines and shielding the group.
Larger sizes of 054B are important in this role. The frigate intended for long-term operations together with the aircraft carrier group needs adequate coverage, autonomy, weapons supply and the possibility of using the helicopter.
Two shipyards may be more important than additional chambers
The greatest interest is the possible increase in H/AKJ-16 launcher chambers from 32 to 48. However, from the point of view of the development of the Chinese fleet, it is equally important to build parallel frigates in two shipyards.
A similar model was used for the serial construction of type 054A frigates. In the case of 054B, the return to the parallel work of Hudong-Zhonghua plants in Shanghai and Huangpu Wenchong in Canton indicates that the program goes beyond the first pair stage.
If the next frigates actually receive a 48-chamber H/AKJ-16 configuration and modified electronic equipment, this will mean that the Chinese are already making changes on subsequent units.
This could be more important than the number of chambers. The potential of the fleet is determined not only by the parameters of a single ship, but also by the ability of industry to serially build more units and gradually make changes in subsequent ships.
In the case of type 054B China is apparently entering this stage.
Source: Poder Naval
