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Type 054A (Jiangkai II) Class Frigate

The Type 054A (Nato reporting name: Jiangkai-II) Class of missile frigates are being built by Hudong-
Zhonghua Shipyard and Huangpu Shipyard for the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN).

The new-generation multi-mission frigate, derived from the Type 054 (Jiangkai Class), integrates advanced
weapons and sensor systems. The first frigate in class, Xuzhou (530), was commissioned into service in Jan-
uary 2008 and the last ship is scheduled to enter service in 2015.

Type 054 (Jiangkai I)

⻢马鞍⼭山/ Ma’anshan (525) Type 054 – Image: jeffhead.com

The Type 054 (NATO Codename Jiangkai I) frigate is a Chinese multi-role warship that were commis-
sioned in the People’s Liberation Army Navy Surface Force in 2005. They superseded the Type 053H3
frigates. Two ships, 525 Ma’anshan, and 526 Wenzhou, were completed before production switched to the
improved Type 054A frigate.

NUMBE PENNANT NAME BUILDER LAUNCHED COMMISSIONED FLEET STATUS

R NUMBER

1 525 ⻢马鞍⼭山/ Hudong September February 2005 East Sea Active

Ma’anshan 2003 Fleet

2 526 温州 / Wenzhou Huangpu November September East Sea Active

2003 2005 Fleet

Builders: Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding

Huangpu Shipyard

Operators: People’s Liberation Army Navy Surface Force

Preceded by: Type 053H3 frigate

Succeeded by: Type 054A frigate

Completed: 2

Active: 2

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS

Type: Frigate

Displacement: 3,900 tons (full)

Length: 134 m (440 ft)(CCTV)

Beam: 16 m (52 ft) (CCTV)

Draught: 5 m (16 ft)

Propulsion: Combined diesel and diesel (CODAD), 4× SEMT Pielstick16 PA6 STC diesels, 5700 kW (7600+ hp

@ 1084 rpm) each

Speed: 27 kn (50 km/h) estimated

Range: 8,025 nautical miles (14,900 km) estimated

Sensors and Type 363S (Thomson-CSFDRBV-15 Sea Tiger) 2D air/surface search radar, E/F band
processing Type 345 (Thomson-CSFCastor-II) fire-control radar for HQ-7 SAM, I/J band
Type 347G Rice Lamp fire control radar for AK-630CIWS guns, I-band
systems:
MR-36A surface search radar, I-band
Type MR34 100 mm gun fire control radar
2× Racal RM-1290 navigation radars, I-band
MGK-335 medium frequency active/passive sonar system
ZKJ-4B/6 (developed from Thomson-CSF TAVITAC) combat data system
HN-900 Data link (Chinese equivalent of Link 11A/B, to be upgraded)
SNTI-240 SATCOM

Electronic war- Type 922-1 radar warning receiver

fare HZ-100 ECM & ELINT system

& decoys:

Armament: 2× 4-cell YJ-83 (C-803) anti-ship missiles

1× HQ-7 8-cell SAM launcher
1× Type 210 100 mm naval gun
4× AK-630 6-barrel 30 mm CIWS guns
Triple 324 mm YU-7 ASWtorpedoes
Rocket launchers, possibly ASW rockets or decoy rockets
Aircraft carried: 1 Kamov Ka-28 ‘Helix’ or Harbin Z-9C

Aviation hangar

facilities:

Source wikiwand.com

Type 054A Xuzhou (530) – Image: jeffhead.com

China offered the sale of three Type 054A frigates to Thailand in 2013, but lost to South Korea, which
offered its modified Gwanggaeto the Great-class destroyers.

Export Potential

A slightly modified version of the Type 054A has been promoted by Dalian China Shipbuilding and Offshore
International (CSOC) for export to Pakistan and Thailand, as well as potentially Bangladesh and Algeria. Pa-
kistan became China’s first customer for the frigates: in 2005 China and Pakistan signed a contract for four
Chinese-built Type 054A frigates that included some modifications specified by the Pakistani Navy. The new
frigate model is called the “F-22P,” and one was recently commissioned in Karachi in April 2013. Apparently
three of the four ships were built in China, and the fourth is being constructed in Pakistan after China
transferred the technology needed to build the ship.

While the Chinese courted the Thai Navy heavily and reportedly came close to selling three frigates to Thai-
land, the story ended with Bangkok ultimately choosing South Korea’s Daewoo as a more reliable and cost-
effective option for the frigate purchase (the Chinese price was $255 million per frigate). This decision was
made despite rumored pressure placed on the Thai Navy by Thailand’s executive branch to purchase a
frigate from China. According to Thai media, several naval officers voiced concerns about the capacity and
quality of frigates from China being lower than other options. Another complaint was that the ship’s steel
structure is not durable.

According to Chinese sources, the weapon systems and radar on the export edition of the Type 054A are
not exactly the same as the 054A currently in service in the PLAN. The export edition has a standard dis-
placement of 3,800t, full load displacement 4,200t, length 136m, and height 8.6m. It can navigate on the
sea for 90 days and nights, navigation range 4,000nm at a speed of 18 knots. It needs an operating crew of
160 and is powered by 4 diesel engines. This model of the FFG has a maximum speed of 26 knots, which is
supposed to be one of the weaknesses of 054A. Modern FFGs and DDGs normally have a navigation speed
of 30 knots. Source chinasignpost.com

F-22P Zulfiquar-class frigate

PNS Saif (253)

The F-22P or Zulfiquar-class frigate (Urdu: ‫ ​ ذواﻟﻔﻘﺎر‬English: Sword class), is a general purpose frigate built
by Pakistan under license from China for the Pakistan Navy (PN). They are an adaptation of the Type 053H3
frigates of China but include elements of the Type 054 frigates as well.

The first ship, PNS Zulfiquar, was handed over to the PN on 30 July 2009 and the second, PNS Shamsheer,
on 23 January 2010. The third frigate, PNS Saif was commissioned on 15 Sep 2011. The fourth and last
frigate of F-22P series, PNS Aslat was inducted on 17 April 2013

NAME PENNANT LAID DOWN LAUNCHED COMMISSIONING

PNS Zulfiquar 251 12 October 2006 5 April 2008 19 September 2009

PNS Shamsheer 252 13 July 2007 31 October 2008 19 December 2009

PNS Saif 253 4 November 2008 28 May 2009 15 September 2010

PNS Aslat 254 10 Dec 2009 16 June 2011 17 April 2013

CLASS OVERVIEW

Name: Zulfiquar (Sword) class

Builders: Karachi Shipyard & Engineering Works, Karachi

Operators: Pakistan Navy (PN)

Preceded by: Type 053H3 frigate

Cost: USD$175 million

Planned: 4

Completed: 4

Active: 4

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS

Type: Frigate

Displacement: 2,500 tonnes (standard)

3,144 tonnes (full load)

Length: 123.2 m (404 ft)

Beam: 13.8 m (45 ft)

Draught: 3.76 m (12.3 ft)

Propulsion: CODAD (Combined Diesel and Diesel)

4 × Pielstick 16PA6STC @ 5,1 MW
4 × MTU diesels generator set 8V396TE54 @ 680 kW

Speed: 29 kn (54 km/h) maximum

Range: 4,000 nmi (7,400 km)

Complement: 170 crew

Sensors and SUR 17 air surveillance radar

processing systems: SR-60 air/surface search radar
KH 2007 navigation radar
Type 347 CIWS fire-control radar
CIWS electro-optical director
Radar warning receiver suite

Electronic warfare RWD-8 intercept, NJ8I-3 jammer

& decoys: Decoy flare, chaff launchers

Armament: Guns:
1 × 76.2 mm calibre AK–176M main gun
Type 730B CIWS (2 × 30 mm 7-barrel Gatling guns)
Missiles:
1 × 8-cell FM-90N SAMlauncher
2 × 4-cell C-802 SSMlaunchers
Other:
2 × 3-cell ET-52C torpedolaunchers
2 × 6-cell RDC-32 anti-submarine rockets

Aircraft carried: 1 × Harbin Z-9EC ASW helicopter

Aviation facilities: Flight deck and enclosed hangar

Notes: Ships in class include:

PNS Zulfiquar (251)
PNS Shamsheer (252)
PNS Saif (253)
PNS Aslat (254)

Source wikiwand.com
Royal Thai Navy’s DW-3000F Frigate: Here

dafeng cao
@dafengcao

Latest list of PLAN frigates/corvettes, only no.519 is left in 5XX. As

expansion is continuing, 054A/056 with hull number 6XX is
expected.

29 1:56 PM - Aug 9, 2017

See dafeng cao's other Tweets

Chinese Assessments of the Type 054A

Much of the open source coverage of the Type 054A as it has participated in the above missions has been
positive, as are assessments by Chinese analysts as well as those who have commanded or otherwise
sailed on the ships. Major problems from the Gulf of Aden deployments are not mentioned in Chinese pub-
lications or by foreign analysts, who almost certainly would have noted and reported on major problems
such as engine failures or other mechanical issues that would require towing back to port and lengthy
repair.

Some of the areas cited by Chinese defense analysts where the Type 054A design is vastly improved over
the Type 054 include:

–Improved air defense: The Type 054A’s medium-range HQ-16 VLS SAM system now provides area air de-
fense from all engagement angles up to a range of 50km, a considerable upgrade from the limited engage-
ment angle, short range SAM system of the Type 054.

–Improved reaction time against close-in threats: The Type 054’s four AK-630 close-in weapon systems
(CIWS) were replaced with two Type 730 CIWS on the Type 054A, which has far better reaction time for anti-
aircraft and anti-missile engagements.

–More capable radar systems: A Russian-derived MR331 Mineral-ME fire-control radar (for anti-ship missile
and for the main gun as its secondary mission), capable of over the horizon targeting, has been installed on
the Type 054A frigate.

–Better stealth design: The V-shaped hull design combined with stealth radar capabilities makes the 054A a
quieter and stealthier ship.

While coverage of areas for improvement of the Type 054A is sparse, a few sources did note that improve-
ments to the next iteration of stealth frigates, the Type 054B, would be focused on the electronic equip-
ment used in the combat information command system as well as changes to the weapons configuration.
This could indicate that the Type 054B will be equipped with new air defense and anti-ship missiles.

Type 054B

The upgraded capabilities of the Type 054A reflect its expanded mission sets and enhance the ability of the
ship to defend itself against a range of threats that it might encounter in both the regional seas and mis-
sions abroad, to include potential conflicts with regional navies as well as pirates in distant waters. Given
the Type 054A’s success to date and the strong likelihood that the PLAN will seek improved follow on vari-
ants, it is important to analyze the research, development, and procurement process that the PLAN used to
bring the Type 054A into the fleet. Source chinasignpost.com

Type 054A design and features

The stealthy hull design of the Type 054A features sloped sides and reduced superstructure for minimising
the radar cross section. Designed primarily for anti-air warfare, the frigates are also equipped to conduct
anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare missions.

The Type 054A has a length of 134m and abeam of 16m. The standard displacement is 3,600t, while the full
displacement is around 4,000t. Each vessel can complement a crew of 165.
 –The lack of reporting to date in Chinese or foreign sources regarding engine failures or other major
mechanical problems suggests that the Type 054A has recorded decent operational reliability in the
six and a half years (and counting) that the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) has maintained its
Gulf of Aden anti-piracy mission.

–While the Type 054A represents an exponential improvement in the quality and capability of the
PLAN’s frigate force, it nonetheless remains a distinctly limited design, certainly in terms of its size and
armament but most especially in terms of its electronics outfit. The Chinese appear to recognize this
fact and view the 054A as an intermediary design intended to play a specific, limited role in fleet
defense.

–Notwithstanding its physical shortcomings, the Type 054A has performed well handling lower intensi-
ty long-range mission In this regard, it has arguably surpassed the capabilities of the French Lafayette-
class frigate that influenced its original design. Source chinasignpost.com

Type 054A missiles

The Type 054A is armed with HQ-16 medium-range surface-air missiles fired from 32-cell Vertical
Launch System (VLS) developed by Luoyang Electro-Optics Technology Development Centre (EOTDC). The
HQ-16 missile can engage aerial targets from all angles up to a range of 50km. The VLS is also expected to
launch anti-submarine missile.

HQ-16 medium-range surface-air missile

The HongQi-16 (HQ-16) is a third generation Chinese land-based mid-range surface-to-air missile defense
system. It is similar to Russia’s SA-11 Gadfly or SA-17 Grizzly, and seems to be an evolved, Chinese version
of those system. Not much else is known about this new system, but there are reports stating that it can
intercept very low-flying targets at maximum distance of 40km. The HQ-16 is said to be more accurate
than previous mid-range defense systems and fills in the performance gaps of the HQ-7 and HQ-9.

HQ-16 Anti Air Missile – Image: chinesemilitaryreview.blogspot.com

Type 054A Jiangkai-II class frigate of the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLA Navy) test fires HQ-16 surface
to air missile during an exercise.Type 054A frigate is equipped a 32-cell vertical launching system (VLS)
which allows the HQ-16 to be launched at rapid rate. – Image: chinesemilitaryreview.blogspot.com
 Video capture of an HHQ-16 launch intercepting what appears to be a low altitude target drone –
Image: plarealtalk.com

Chinese news websites report that the HQ-16’s performance data is roughly:

Effective range of 1.5-30 km

Effective Altitude of 10-6000 meters
Single hit probability of 0.7-0.98
Reaction time 5-8 seconds
9 m long missile
Projectile diameter 0.232 m
Weighs 165 kg
Warhead weight of 17 kg
Maximum flight speed of Mach 2.8.

Data missilethreat.com

CY-5 (Chiang Ying, Long Tassel) ASROC-type missile

A PLAN naval drill in July saw the likely first images of an ASROC-type torpedo-carrying missile, fired from
the vertical launch system of a Type 054A ‘Jiangkai II’-class frigate. The official designator of this missile is
uncertain, although some sources suggest nomenclature of CY-5 (Chiang Ying , Long Tassel). Source: Screen-
 grab from CCTV @janes.com

Image: plarealtalk.com

CY-5 is the vertically launched version of CY-4 with folding control surfaces to fit into VLS. The range is re-
ported to be 30 km. The existence of CY-5 type weapon was first officially revealed in 2012 when Type 054A
frigate was opened to public in Hong Kong, when the governmental explanation described the modular VLS
at the bow of the ship can launch both air defense missiles and rocket propelled ASW torpedoes armed
with various Chinese and western torpedoes. However, the exact designation of the rocket propelled ASW
torpedo was not revealed. Because CY series was also first intended for export and armed with torpedoes
of western origin, CY-5 is thus also most likely armed with Chinese Y-7, or other western light torpedoes
such as A244-S. CY-5 is reportedly also deployed onboard Type 052D destroyer. Source wikipedia.org

Yu-8 anti-submarine missile launched from VLS of 054A

Xiangtan
 dafeng cao
@dafengcao

Yu-8 anti-submarine missile launched from VLS of 054A Xiangtan.

19 2:34 PM - Jun 30, 2017

26 people are talking about this

Yu-8 torpedo is a rocket propelled ASW torpedo similar to CY-5, but with a different payload. The exact type
of the light weight torpedo (LWT) carried by Yu-8 has not been officially released by the Chinese govern-
mental sources (as of 2016), but many military analysts and enthusiasts have concluded it is the
Russian APR-3E torpedo based on other information released officially by the Chinese government in 2015,
namely, the incorporation of data link on Yu-8:[8][9]

The Russian torpedo is approximately a meter, or a third longer than its western counterparts, such
as A244-S, Sting Ray, or Mk 54, and is also nearly twice the weight of its western counterparts, but more im-
portantly, the range of Russian APR-3E LWT is only a third of that its western counterparts. If a very fast nu-
clear submarine is targeted by Yu-8 near its maximum range, then from the time Yu-8 is launched to its
point of entry, the target might have already opened up the gap and thus has successfully escaped by get-
ting out of the range of APR-3E. Just as in the case of CY-3 development from CY-2, to ensure the point of
entry of Yu-8 is within the 3 km range of APR-3E, a datalink is also incorporated to enable the weapon to re-
ceive target update from other platforms such as surface ships and aircraft.[8][9] This feature is not a must
for western LWT torpedoes with a range that is approximately three times of that of Russian LWT, and
hence when the Chinese official sources have revealed the existence of datalink on Yu-8, it suggests the
LWT Yu-8 delivers is Russian APR-3E or similar Chinese copies. Many military analysts and enthusiasts have
also postulated that since the Russian LWT is larger and heavier, to maintain the same range of CY-5 armed
with lighter and shorter torpedoes of western origin, the rocket motor of Yu-8 would have to be either larg-
er or more powerful.

The existence of Yu-8 designation was first revealed in March 2014,[10] and confirmed more than a year lat-
er by CCTV-7 in August 2015, when it aired a footage of Chinese naval war game that contained the launch
of rocket propelled ASW torpedo from VLS of a Chinese warship, with designation Yu-8 torpedo assigned.
[5] Yu-8 is designed by the 705th Research Institute in Kunming, with program begun in 2002 and complet-
ed in 2006. Source wikiwand.com

Chinese PJ26 76mm Naval Gun Test

The primary Anti-Surface Warfare (ASuW) system of the Type 054A is the YJ-83 (C-803) sea-skimming
anti-ship cruise missile. The missile is launched by two quadruple launchers mounted at the mid-ship po-
sition. The YJ-83 missile can carry a 165kg conventional warhead to an operational range of 250km.

YJ-83 (C-803) sea-skimming anti-ship cruise missile

The YJ-83 (YingJi-83 meaning Eagle Strike) was designed by the Third Academy of the China Aerospace Sci-
ence and Industry Corporation “CASIC” (HiWING Mechanical & Electrical Technology Corporation). The pro-
gramme begun in the mid nineties and procurement with the PLAN begun in the late nineties. YJ-83 is a
subsonic missile with a reported range of 150 Km (in its surface-launched version). It is a sea skeaming ca-
pable missile fitted with an active radar seeker. Source navyrecognition.com

Yuncheng(571) – Image: navalanalyses.blogspot.com

The YJ-83 is a long-range anti-ship missile designed to meet the requirements of the PLA Navy (PLAN). The
YJ-83 has a range of 150 to 200 kilometers and introduces a data-link to receive target updates from air-
borne assets such as helicopters or fixed-wing aircraft. The YJ-83 can fly at supersonic speeds (Mach 1.5)
during the terminal phase of the flight (approx 15 kilometers). The PLAN is deploying the YJ-83 missile as
the standard anti-ship missile onboard frigates and destroyers.

Dimensions

Diameter: 0.36 meter

Length: 6.39 meter (21.0 foot)

Wingspan: 1.22 meter

Performance

Max Range: 200 kilometer (108 nautical mile)

Speed

Cruise Speed: 0.90 mach (1,076 kph)

Top Speed: 1.50 mach (1,793 kph)

Weight

Warhead: 165 kilogram (364 pound)

Source deagel.com

临沂/Linyi (547) YJ-83 (C-803) sea-skimming anti-ship cruise missile

New “missile” ASW

 Image: sinodefenceforum.com

Image: sinodefenceforum.com

Naval gun systems and ASW weapons

The main gun fitted on the bow deck is a single-barrel 76mm gun. The frigate is armed with two indigenous
Type 730 seven-barrel 30mm close-in weapon systems (CIWS) for close-point defence against aerial
threats. The CIWS can fire 4,600 to 5,800 rounds per minute for a maximum range of 3,000m.

1 × PJ26 76 mm dual purpose gun

The 713th Institute (also known as Zhengzhou Electrical Engineering Research Institute) of China Shipbuild-
ing Industry Corporation (CSIC) of the People’s Republic of China has developed a Chinese variant of AK-
176, with Mr. Chen Dingfeng (陈汀峰) as the general designer. Design begun in 2000 and was completed in
2003. The primary difference between this H/PJ-26 and AK-176 is that the Chinese variant adopts a stealthy
turret design, and more composite material is used in the construction of the turret. In addition, ready
rounds for the H/PJ-26 are doubled to 150 rounds from the original 75 of the AK-176.
Source wikiwand.com

PJ26 single tube 76MM stealth gun

PJ26 single tube 76MM gun stealth based AK176 single tube 76.2 mm gun stealth modifications on the
Russian ship. In early 2000 determined by the Zhengzhou Institute of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering
(713) as chief engineer units, and thus responsible for the development, general contracting, Chen Ting
Feng served as the chief architect and was completed in 2003.

Performance parameters (Russia AK176 type):

total weight: 11500kg (including the lower deck loader)
Range: 11.5 ~ 15.5km
Rate of fire: 60 to 120 rounds / min
reserve ammunition: 152 Hair
barrel tilt range: -15 to +85 degree
level cyclotron range: about 175 degrees

Source haijun360.com
 Chinese PJ26 76mm Naval Gun Test

Type 730 seven-barrel (PJ-12) 30mm close-in weapon systems (CIWS)

Type 730 CIWS Yuncheng (571) – Image: navalanalyses.blogspot.com

The Type 730 is a Chinese-made close-in weapon system (CIWS) based on a seven-barrel 30mm gun with a
maximum rate of fire of approximately 4,600 to 5,800 rounds per minute. This CIWS weapon system pro-
vides short-range air defense to the latest ships commissioned by the People’s Liberation Army Navy
(PLAN). Source deagel.com

18th 054A onwards the seven barrel PJ-12 was replaced by the PJ-11
(H/PJ-14)

Left: seven barrel PJ-12 30mm CIWS installed on 054A hulls 1-17, Right: eleven barrel PJ-11 30mm CIWS in-
stalled on 054A hulls 18 and onwards – Source plarealtalk.com

A pair of PJ-12 (also known as Type 730) close in weapon systems (CIWS) provide a robust last ditch anti air,
anti missile and anti surface capability. The PJ-12 is a 7 barrel, 30mm calibre gatling gun featuring its own
fire control radar and electro-optic targeting system. PJ-12 is similar in arrangement to the Dutch Goalkeep-
er CIWS, but is reportedly actually influenced by the aborted French SAMOS CIWS. The seven barrel PJ-12
equips 054A hulls 1 to 17, from the 18th 054A onwards, the seven barrel PJ-12 was replaced by the more
formidable PJ-11, an eleven barrel variant of the PJ-12 that had previously only been fitted aboard the air-
craft carrier Liaoning. Source plarealtalk.com
Properties: Capable vs Seaskimmer

Targets: Aircraft, Helicopter, Missile, Surface Vessel

WEAPONS:

30mm China H/PJ-14 [Type 1130, 500 rnds] – (China, 11 Barrels, Upgr Goalkeeper Copy) Gun

Air Max: 1.9 km. Surface Max: 2.8 km.

Source cmano-db.com

The anti-submarine warfare (ASW) capabilities are provided by two Type 87 six-tube ASW rocket launch-
ers and tow 324mm YU-7 ASW torpedo launchers. Each rocket has a 34kg warhead and can strike under-
water targets within the range of 1,200m.

2 x Type 87 six-tube ASW rocket launcher

Type 87 six-tube ASW rocket launcher Yuncheng (571) – Image: navalanalyses.blogspot.com

There are two Type 87 six-tube anti-submarine rocket launchers installed on the bow deck, with 36 rockets
(240mm calibre, 34kg warhead). The maximum range is 1,200m. Source defensetiger.blogspot.com

Targets: Submarine

WEAPONS:

China Type 87 ASW Rocket Salvo [6 rnds] – Rocket

Subsurface Max: 3.7 km.

Source cmano-db.com

2 324mm YU-7 ASW torpedo launchers

Type-054A Frigate Anti-submarine Exercises – Image: errymath.blogspot.com

YU-7 ASW torpedo

The Yu-7 is a lightweight torpedo of Chinese origin. Since 1984 China tried to copy and later produce under
license the US Mk 46 torpedo. This proved to be difficult and a batch of Italian A.224S torpedoes was or-
dered and the two designs were mated. An electrically powered Yu-7 offspring called the ET-52 was devel-
oped and put into service before the development of the Yu-7 was finished.

Type-054A Frigate Anti-submarine Exercises – Image: errymath.blogspot.com

The Yu-7 is a mixture of the Mk 46 Mod 1 and Mod 2 with various components from the A.224S torpedo.
The Yu-7 retains the complex Otto fuel engine which provides it with a better performance than the electri-
cally powered ET-52. The layout is conventional with the seeker in the nose, the warhead in the middle and
the fuel and engine at the rear.

The Yu-7 uses a combination of passive and active acoustic guidance. It is believed that the Mk 46 seeker
design is retained but several components have been replaced by those from the A.224S.

Type Anti-submarine torpedo

Platform Aircraft, surface ships

Diameter 324 mm

Length 2.6 m

Weight 235 kg
Warhead 45 kg

Guidance Active/passive acoustic seeker

Propulsion Twin propeller

Power supply Otto Fuel II

Speed 43 kt

Range 10 km

Depth 6 to 400 m depth

Source weaponsystems.net

Variable depth sonar from hull 18 onwards

The 054A class also fields a comprehensive undersea sensor suite for ASW roles. All 054As are equipped
with a bow sonar and a towed array sonar as well as a towed torpedo decoy system, and from all ships
from hull 18 onwards have also been equipped with an additional variable depth sonar, appearing to be
the same type mounted on the 056A class corvette. Such a comprehensive sonar suite, combined with a
hangar and helipad for a helicopter, makes the 054A a very viable and competent ASW surface combatant
within the Chinese Navy’s order of battle. Source plarealtalk.com

GENERAL DATA:

Type: VDS, Active/Passive Sonar Altitude Max: 0 m

Range Max: 14.8 km Altitude Min: 0 m

Range Min: 0 km Generation: Early 1970s

SENSORS / EW:

China SJD-X [Unknown VDS] – (Type 054++, Type 056 ASW) VDS, Active/Passive Sonar

Role: VDS, Active/Passive Variable Depth Sonar

Max Range: 14.8 km

Source cmano-db.com

Type 054A Towed Torpedo Decoy

Photography of a Type 054A frigate with a streamed tow cable has recently been seen on Chinese websites.
The accompanying discussions on the blog sites state this is evidence of a towed array.
Source admiraltytrilogy.com

Flight deck

Kamov Ka-28 Helix on Type-054A Frigate Anti-submarine Exercises – Image: errymath.blogspot.com

The stern helicopter deck features a single landing spot for supporting the missions of a medium size heli-
copter. The heli-deck is fitted with helicopter handling system and can accommodate a Kamov Ka-28 Helix
or a Harbin Z-9C helicopter.

Kamov Ka-28 Helix

Kamov Ka-28 Helix on Type-054A Frigate Anti-submarine Exercises – Image: errymath.blogspot.com

Kamov Ka-27PL ‘Helix-A’

Entered service 1982

Crew 3 men

Dimensions and weight

Length 11.27 m

Main rotor diameter 15.9 m

Height 5.45 m

Weight (empty) 6.1 t

Weight (maximum take off) 12.6 t

Engines and performance

Engines 2 x Klimov TV3-117V turboshaft engines

Engine power 2 x 2 190 hp

Maximum speed 250 km/h

Cruising speed 230 km/h

Service ceiling 5 km

Range 800 km

Payload

Maximum payload 5t

Typical load ?

Armament

Torpedoes 4 x APR-2E homing torpedoes

Bombs 4 x groups of S3V guided anti-submarine bombs in place

of torpedoes

Image: combataircraft.com

Data military-today.com

Harbin Z-9C helicopter

Chinese Type 054A Jiangkai II class FFG-546 Yancheng Guided Missile Frigate on patrol in Mediterranean Sea.
Image: Chinese Military Review

Z-9C: Version for PLA Naval Air Force, for deployment aboard certain classes of destroyers and frigates; in
service by late 2000. Believed to be equivalent to Arriel 2-engined Eurocopter AS 565 Panther, but equipped
with Thales HS-12 dipping sonar and KLC-11/J-band (Chinese version of Agrion 15) surface search radar; ar-
mament includes two Yu-7 torpedoes or TV-guided C-701 anti-surface vessel missiles. Source aviastar.org

Specifications (Z-9B)

Data from

General characteristics

Crew: 1 or 2 pilots
Capacity: 10 passengers or 1,900 kg (4,189 lb) payload internal, 1,600 kg (3,527 lb) payload slung
Length: 12.11 m (39 ft 9 in)
Height: 4.01 m (13 ft 2 in)
Empty weight: 2,050 kg (4,519 lb)
Max takeoff weight: 4,100 kg (9,039 lb)
Powerplant: 2 × Zhuzhou Aeroengine Factory WZ-8A turboshaft, 632 kW (848 hp) each
Main rotor diameter: 11.94 m (39 ft 2 in)
Main rotor area: 111.98 m2 (1,205.3 sq ft) swept area

Performance

Maximum speed: 305 km/h (190 mph; 165 kn)

Cruising speed: 260 km/h (162 mph; 140 kn)
Ferry range: 1,000 km (621 mi; 540 nmi) with internal auxiliary tank
Endurance: 5 hours
Service ceiling: 4,500 m (14,764 ft) * Hovering Ceiling in ground effect: 2,600 m (8,530 ft)
Hovering Ceiling out of ground effect: 1,600 m (5,249 ft)

Armament

2 fixed 23 mm Type 23-2 (AM-23) cannon on attack variants. Pylons for rockets, gun pods, ET52 torpedo, HJ-
8 anti-tank missiles, or TY-90 air-to-air missiles.
Technical data wikiwand.com

Sensors and radars aboard the Type 054A frigate

The Type 054Afrigate is equipped with Type 382 3D air/surface search radar, MR-36A surface search
radar, and two Racal RM-1290 navigation radars operating in I-band. The 3D search radar can simulta-
neously track up to 40 targets within the maximum range of 120km.

Image: errymath.blogspot.com

Type 382 3D air/surface search radar

Yuncheng (571) Type 382 3D air/surface search radar – Image: navalanalyses.blogspot.com

Type 382 radar is a Chinese naval 3-D air search radar designed to replace earlier Chinese Type 381.

Contrary to many frequent but erroneous claim, Type 382 radar is not a simple Chinese copy of Russian
MR-710 Fregat (meaning frigatebird) radar (NATO reporting name: Top Plate), though Type 382 does bor-
row heavily from MR-710 radar. Type 382 radar program had already begun in the early 1990s, before the
start of the negotiation of importing Russian Sovremennyy-class destroyer in 1994. Type 382 is designed to
be a successor of earlier Type 381, but development had run into technological bottleneck for the next gen-
eration passive phased array radar due to the technical and industrial limitations in the early and mid-
1990s China had at the time. The import of Russian MR-710 radar had provided a significant boost in the
development of Type 382 radar in that designers of Type 382 can borrow ideas of MR-710, and as a result,
Type 382 has become a cross between Type 381 and MR-710. L Source wikiwand.com
 Image: errymath.blogspot.com

The Type 344 (Mineral-ME Band Stand) radar above the bridge provides ship-ship missile control, over-
the-horizon radar acquisition and target designation of surface vessels, while four Type 345 (NATO report-
ing name: MR-90 Front Dome) F-band radars provide two channels to guide two air defence missiles
simultaneously.

A photo of 054A’s darkened CIC during typical operations – Source plarealtalk.com

Type 344 (Mineral-ME Band Stand) radar

Yuncheng (571) Type 344 (Mineral-ME Band Stand) radar – Image: navalanalyses.blogspot.com

Mineral system (‘Band Stand’) is used for missile guidance, MR331 Mineral ME ( Russian export version
Monolit or Band Stand in Western code) is a team able to locate targets beyond the radar horizon. Which is
essential guide surface-to-surface missiles.

Type 345 (NATO reporting name: MR-90 Front Dome)

 Yuncheng (571) Type 345 (NATO reporting name: MR-90 Front Dome) at bottom of pic –
Image: navalanalyses.blogspot.com

Yuncheng (571) Type 345 (NATO reporting name: MR-90 Front Dome) on top of hanger –
Image: navalanalyses.blogspot.com

GENERAL DATA:

Type: Radar Altitude Max: 30480 m

Range Max: 74.1 km Altitude Min: 0 m

Range Min: 0.4 km Generation: Early 1980s

Properties: Pulse Doppler Radar (Full LDSD Capability), Continuous Wave Illumination

SENSORS / EW:

Front Dome [MR-90 Orekh] – (1981, Fire Dome?) Radar

Role: Radar, FCR, Surface-to-Air, Short-Range

Max Range: 74.1 km

The ship is also fitted with TR47C and Type 347G fire-control radars for the CIWS and 76mm main gun.
The frigate is also equipped with MGK-335 medium frequency active/passive sonar system integrating Bull
Horn active and Whale Tongue passive hull-mounted, search and attack sonar.

TR47C/Type 347G fire-control radar

The Type 347G “Rice Bowl” I-band fire-control radar is found on Chinese Navy ships, in conjection with
the Type 76A dual-37mm automatic AAA gun. Typically, the system includes 2 Type 347G fire-control
radar with optical director, and 4 Type 76A guns. They’re used on the Luda, Luhu, Luhai, Jiangwei class sur-
face warships, as well as the Houjian, Houxin, and Haiging class patrol boats.

Type 347 radar is frequently but erroneously referred by many as either Type 349 or Type 348, because ex-
ternally, all three radars look very similar, and all three are developed as fire control radar for small caliber
guns. In reality, the three radars are different and they can be easily distinguished by the following fea-
tures: When electro-optics (EO) are integrated with radar, EO is installed on the portside of Type 347 radar
antenna, but for Type 348 and Type 349, EO is installed on the starboard side of the radar antenna. Fur-
thermore, when incorporated as part of CIWS, Type 349 is slaved to Type 730 CIWS gun and thus does not
rotate, because the gun rotates when searching/tracking. In contrast, Type 348 is not slaved to the Type 76
37mm twin guns, but instead, installed separately from the gun mounts, and thus Type 348 rotates when
searching/tracking. The shape of antenna is also an important visual cue to distinguish three radars. The tip
of Type 349 radar is a conical, which is missing on Type 347. Instead, the tip of Type 347 radar antenna is a
small circular flat surface, missing the tip of the cone. The antenna of Type 348 radar differs from both
Type 347 and Type 349 radars in that most of the cone is missing, only the base remains, so the antenna of
Type 348 radar has a very large circular flat surface, resulting in Type 348 radar resembles a scaled down
version of another larger fire control radar for larger caliber guns (76 mm or greater), Type 344.

Specifications

X-band

(Specs based on RTN-20X)

Beam: 2.2 deg

Gain: 37 dBi
Range:
Target acquisition for 2m2: 12 km (verified for LR66)
Target acquisition for 0.1m2: 6 km (verified for LR66)
Other features:
Uses a coherent pulse doppler design
Non coherent Moving Target Indicator/Detection (MTI, MTD), CFAR (Constant False Alarm Rate)
Antinodding, anti clutter capability (A well advertised feature of the RTN family)
Other reported names:
TR47C

Source wikiwand.com

Bull Nose (MGK-335M Platina) Hull Sonar

GENERAL DATA:

Type: Hull Sonar, Active/Passive Altitude Max: 0 m

Range Max: 27.8 km Altitude Min: 0 m

Range Min: 0 km Generation: Early 1980s

SENSORS / EW:

Bull Nose [MGK-335M Platina] – (1981, Assoc w Mare Tail & Steer Hide) Hull Sonar, Active/Passive

Role: Hull Sonar, Active/Passive Search

Max Range: 27.8 km

Source cmano-db.com
Countermeasures

Yuncheng (571) – Image: navalanalyses.blogspot.com

The countermeasures are provided by two 18-tube multiple rocket launchers capable of firing de-
coys/chaffs. Other electronic warfare systems include Type 922-1 radar warning receiver and HZ-100 Elec-
tronic Counter Measures (ECM) and Electronic Support Measures (ESM) system.

Type 922-1 radar warning receiver

People’s Liberation Army (Navy) ships consisted of a Type 903 Replenishment Ship, the Taihu, and two Type
054A Guided Missile Frigates the Yancheng and the Daqing on visit to VICTORIA, Canada –
Image: jgmjgm516.blogspot.com

2 × Type 726-4 18-tube decoy rocket launchers

Yuncheng (571) Type 726-4 18-tube decoy rocket launcher (From pic it is 24 tube) –
Image: navalanalyses.blogspot.com

Propulsion

The combined diesel and diesel (CODAD) propulsion system integrates four SEMT Pielstick (now MAN
Diesel) 16 PA6V-280 STC diesel engines produced locally under license at Shaanxi Diesel Factory. Each en-
gine, with a sustained power of 4,720kW (6,330hp), provides a total power output of 18,880kW (25,320hp).
The propulsion system provides a maximum speed of 27kt and range of more than 8,000nmi.
Main material source naval-technology.com

Costs of Building a Type 054A

We estimate that the Type 054A currently costs a total of approximately US$348 million per vessel to build
and fit out. This estimate derives from breaking the ship down by its main systems categories (hull and
equipment, propulsion/power transmission, weapons, and electronics) and calculating their respective
costs, as well as the cost of the labor needed to assemble the ship into a finished product. We rely heavily
on valuation by analogy in many cases because Chinese sources simply do not disclose cost information on
the vast majority of the inputs being used in warships being built in China. As such, the figure as stands is
conservative and may overestimate the construction and equipment costs.

Type 054A Cost Breakdown

Million USD, Percentage of total estimated ship cost (numbers rounded)

Source: Alibaba, U.S. Navy, Local and Foreign Media Sources, Authors’ Analysis

The next section elaborates sequentially on the Type 054A’s cost structure, with the areas that contribute
the most to final ship cost addressed first.

Electronics: US$102 million, 29%. Chinese military-grade electronics makers disclose little or no informa-
tion on the unit costs of systems then produce for the PLA. Furthermore, the PLA does not publish detailed
budgets such as those commonplace in the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD). As such, this analysis uses a
valuation by analogy approach to estimate the likely cost of the ship’s main electronics systems. The ship’s
ZKJ-4B/6 combat data system is said to be based on Thompson CSF’s Tavitac. The Naval Institute Guide to
World Naval Weapons Systems, 1997-1998 estimated that the Tavitac accounted for less than 5% of the fi-
nal cost of the French Lafayette-class frigate, which based on the US$466 million original unit cost of the six
Lafayette-class frigates (“Kang Ding”) purchased by Taiwan in 1992, suggests Tavitac costs approximately
US$20 million. Given the systems’ stated similarity, it is reasonable to value the ZKJ-4B/6 at US$20 million
per unit.

The Type 382 3D search radar likely costs approximately US$15 million per unit based on the price of the
AMD radar system Saab sold to Australia for its Canberra-class LHD and the fact that Chinese radar makers
likely have not yet attained the experience and efficiency level of Saab’s production process. The Type
054A’s sonar suite likely costs around US$20 million, based on the unit cost of the Royal Navy’s Sonar 2087
and the procurement requirements the U.S. Navy used in 2005 when specifying the characteristics of a new
towed sonar array. Finally, the authors estimate that the Type 054A’s machinery control system costs
US$15 million, based on the fact that Northrup Grumman has contracted to supply the much larger LHA-7
amphibious assault ship’s machinery control system at a cost of US$50.6 million. We acknowledge that
shipboard electronics costs may in fact be lower, although no data presently known to us supports a lower
cost.

Yuncheng (571) – Image: navalanalyses.blogspot.com

Weapons: US$84 million, 24%. The most expensive part of the Type 054A’s weapons suite is likely the ver-
tical launching system cells. An 8-cell module from the US Mk 41 VLS system—the most widely used in the
world—costs around US$15 million. The Type 054A has 32 total VLS cells and the author discounts the 8-
cell module cost to US$10 million, making the system cost an estimated US$40 million. The second most
expensive component of the Type 054A’s armament are its two Type 730 close in weapon systems (“CIWS”),
which likely cost around US$11 million for both. The U.S. Navy’s Phalanx Block 1B CIWS costs US$5.6 million
per unit, and we believe this is a reasonable proxy for the Type 730 CIWS cost because although the Chi-
nese gun is a larger caliber and the system is physically larger, the assembly and materials costs are likely
substantially lower.

Yuncheng (571) – Image: navalanalyses.blogspot.com

Labor: US$75 million, 22%. While data are somewhat scarce, building and commissioning a frigate-sized
warship of between 3,000 and 4,000 tons displacement appears to require between 2.5 million man hours
(US FFG-7) and 10.8 million man hours (India’s Godavari-class) of labor. We estimate that at present, Chi-
nese military shipyards, which can afford a higher degree of labor intensity than Western yards due to a
large labor force, but which are also almost certainly substantially more efficient than Indian yards, require
around 3.2 million man hours to build and commission a Type 054A frigate. Chinese yards’ average labor
cost is based on the 2013 labor expenditures of Jiangsu Rongsheng, a top private shipbuilder, which are
then increased by 25% to reflect the premium paid for special skill sets required for shipbuilding work done
to naval specifications.

Hull and equipment: US$45 million, 13%. This cost estimate is based on the fact that around one-third of
the light ship weight of surface combatants such as the Type 054A typically consists of metals—primarily
steel, along with lesser quantities of high-grade alloys and wiring and pipes. The author then multiplied the
1,200 tonnes of steel likely required for a ship the size of the Type 054A by an average cost of
US$2,000/tonne for high quality steel such as that used in warships. The remainder of the cost comes from
composite materials and radar absorbent materials, whose cost data were obtained from similar items
sold on Alibaba.com and from the cost of applying radar absorbent coatings to frigate-sized U.S. warships,
as disclosed by the Chicago Tribune (admittedly a bit dated as it is 1993-vintage). Cost data for paint, piping,
pumps, valves, and wiring also come from similar Chinese-made items advertised for sale on Alibaba.com
as well as the London Metals Exchange spot price for copper, the underlying component of wiring and like-
ly at least part of the pipe alloys.

Propulsion: US$32 million, 9%. The biggest share of the Type 054A’s propulsion costs come from its four
Pielstick/Shaanxi PA6 diesel engines. At least one trading company offers Pielstick engines for sale at be-
tween US$1and US$10 million apiece. This estimate uses the mid-range price of $5 million per engine to re-
flect the size of the engine and the premium quality needed for a military application. The balance of the
estimated cost reflects the gearbox, drive shafts, steering gear, and props.

Miscellaneous costs: US$10 million, 3%. This category is a “catchall” that helps the overall estimate ac-
count for bits and pieces that might have been overlooked in the process of estimating each ship segment’s
cost. Source chinasignpost.com

CLASS OVERVIEW

Builders: Hudong-Zhonghua Shipyard

Huangpu Shipyard

Operators: People’s Liberation Army Navy Surface Force

Preceded by: Type 054 frigate

Subclasses: Type 054A

Type 054A+

Cost: ¥ 1.58 billion

Building: 5 as of May 2015

Active: 22

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS

Type: Frigate

Displacement: 4,053 tonnes (full)(CCTV report)

Length: 134.1 m (440 ft)(CCTV report)

Beam: 16 m (52 ft) (CCTV report)

Propulsion: CODAD, 4 x Shaanxi 16 PA6 STC diesels, 5700 kW (7600+ hp @ 1084 rpm) each

Speed: 27 kn estimated

Range: 8025 nautical miles estimated

Complement: 165

Sensors and Type 382 Radar (Upgraded from Type 381 Radar “Sea Eagle S/C”) 3D air/surface search
processing radar
Type 344 Radar (Mineral-ME Band Stand) OTH target acquisition and SSM fire control
systems:
radar
4 × Type 345 Radar(MR-90 Front Dome) SAM fire control radars
MR-36A surface search radar, I-band
Type 347G 76 mm gun fire control radar
2 × Racal RM-1290 navigation radars, I-band
MGK-335 medium frequency active/passive sonar system
ZKJ-4B/6 (developed from Thomson-CSF TAVITAC) combat data system
HN-900 Data link (Chinese equivalent of Link 11A/B, to be upgraded)
SNTI-240 SATCOM
AKD5000S Ku band SATCOM

Electronic warfare Type 922-1 radar warning receiver

& decoys: HZ-100 ECM & ELINT system
Kashtan-3 missile jamming system
Armament: 1 × 32-cell VLS
HQ-16 SAM
Yu-8 anti submarine rocket launcher
2 × 4 C-803 anti-ship / land attack cruise missiles
1 × PJ26 76 mm dual purpose gun
2 × Type 730 7-barrel 30 mm CIWS guns or Type 1130
2 × 3 324mm YU-7 ASWtorpedo launchers
2 × 6 Type 87 240mm anti-submarine rocket launcher (36 rockets carried)
2 × Type 726-4 18-tube decoy rocket launchers

Aircraft carried: 1 Kamov Ka-28 ‘Helix’ or Harbin Z-9C

Aviation facilities: hangar

Export

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 vari-
ant of the Chinese multi-role warship.

Updated Jan 12, 2018

This entry was posted in Uncategorized on November 22, 2016 [https://thaimilitaryandasianregion.word-

press.com/2016/11/22/type-054a-jiangkai-ii-class-frigate/] .

2 thoughts on “Type 054A (Jiangkai II) Class Frigate”

 Kevin
November 23, 2016 at 9:44 am

Brilliant coverage as always…always learn much from your work…thank you!

nonothai Post author

November 23, 2016 at 9:46 am

Thanks

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