054/A FFG Thread II
- Thread starter tphuang
- Start date
franco-russe
Senior Member
We have never heard of 531 and 532 (both ESF) before. Until now, it was reported that Hulls 13-16 would be 572-575 (SSF).
The expectation was that after 054A Hull 16 we would see 054B...
The expectation was that after 054A Hull 16 we would see 054B...
An extended order of 054A would make some sense if we take the chart A man posted in the speculation thread, where PLAN will be going for a new 059 frigate than 054B.
Maybe they don't see benefit in upgrading the 054 hull with new radar, VLS. I think one of the issues tphuang mentioned about 054/A was it couldn't keep up with the speed of CVNs reliably. So instead of putting funding into another 054 iteration which may not satisfy future threats and growth requirements, PLAN are going to buy a few more 054As (which are enough for the present and near future) and look into a clean sheet frigate and mass produce that instead.
The good thing is that current 054As will still be relevant in future, if an active guided HQ-16 is (likely going to be) developed they can remove the orekhs and stick the new SAM into existing VLS. Or simply switch the current 32 cell with a new 32 cell universal VLS, the space is already there.
Maybe they don't see benefit in upgrading the 054 hull with new radar, VLS. I think one of the issues tphuang mentioned about 054/A was it couldn't keep up with the speed of CVNs reliably. So instead of putting funding into another 054 iteration which may not satisfy future threats and growth requirements, PLAN are going to buy a few more 054As (which are enough for the present and near future) and look into a clean sheet frigate and mass produce that instead.
The good thing is that current 054As will still be relevant in future, if an active guided HQ-16 is (likely going to be) developed they can remove the orekhs and stick the new SAM into existing VLS. Or simply switch the current 32 cell with a new 32 cell universal VLS, the space is already there.
antiterror13
Brigadier
Yeahh with new generation of solid fuel being developed by China, that VLS size for HQ-16 could be replaced with new missiles with more range and much better seeker. Solid fuel produce by China is getting better and better, perhaps not as advance as the US one, but the gap is obviously narrowing each day
timepass
Brigadier
Rumors: PLAN Added More Orders Of 054A; The Section Of 9th(17th of 054A or 19th of the total 054 & 054A) 054A Of Huangpu Have Been Constructed.
Based on above list, the PLAN surface fleet will be comprising by 2015 as below (other than Amphibious/Fleet Auxiliaries/Mine Warfare):
DDG
052 (Luhu) 2
051B (Luhai) 1
956/956EM (Sov) 4
052B (Luyang-I) 2
051C (Luyang-II) 2
052C (Luzhou) 10
FFG
053H2G (Jiangwei-I) 4
053h3 (Jiangwei-II) 10
054 (Jiangkai-I) 2
054A (Jiangkai-II) 18
OPV
056 (???) 24+
022 (Houbei) 100+
Any suggestions most welcome on above & post 2015 fleet.
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asif iqbal
Lieutenant General
so the production of Type 054A will continue past 16 units?
somehow i dont believe that, after 2015 we will see new generation of frigate, a more improved Type 054B, possibly 8 units to add to the 16 Type 054A and 2 Type 054s
the production run for Type 054A will have spanned almost a decade when it enters into 2015, i doubt China would extend that run any further, they have learnt alot from Type 054A and new hull design coupled with new systems should throw the Type 054B into the pool with FREMM and Type 026 Frigates
but maybe the Type 054B is the new Type 059!?
somehow i dont believe that, after 2015 we will see new generation of frigate, a more improved Type 054B, possibly 8 units to add to the 16 Type 054A and 2 Type 054s
the production run for Type 054A will have spanned almost a decade when it enters into 2015, i doubt China would extend that run any further, they have learnt alot from Type 054A and new hull design coupled with new systems should throw the Type 054B into the pool with FREMM and Type 026 Frigates
but maybe the Type 054B is the new Type 059!?
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I'm just wondering. A hundred years ago US battleships used steam turbine electric propulsion because gear boxes of the required size and quality were not yet available. Now most navies use for many combatants gas turbines driving their propellers through gear boxes. Might China be avoiding this and go for Type 059(?) to gas turbine electric? Such a gas turbine electric installation puts less stress on the gas turbine than a mechanical drive. If they see it coming before 2020 it might well be better to go on with 054A+ rather than have an interim type in between.
A frigate is perhaps the right size to try this on, to be building now or in a very few years and followed by series production five years later.
A frigate is perhaps the right size to try this on, to be building now or in a very few years and followed by series production five years later.
franco-russe
Senior Member
I generally agree with your line of thinking, and Type 054 may as things now stand in fact stop after Hull 18 (575). On the other hand, what will Hudong and Huangpu do when not building 054A's? In the 2035 forecast, the first Type 059 was in service in 2023, so there would be a gap of about 8 years.
asif iqbal
Lieutenant General
a gap which seems too long
if they go for a set of 8 Type 054B inbetween Type 054A and Type 059 its would seem plausible, also a jump from Type 054A straight to Type 059 would be a qauntum leap in terms of technology, it would be like from Type 052 destroyer to Type 052C without the "B"
plus 16 Type 054A although a good number is not really alot when you think of 053s they need replacing, but now they also have Type 056 to throw into the mix
China will continue its trend of making frigates and destroyers, maybe in the ratio of 2:1 per year in the coming years, its hard to see them stopping either one of them
even if Type 054A production continues till ~2018 they can still slip in 8 Type 054Bs before 2023
if they go for a set of 8 Type 054B inbetween Type 054A and Type 059 its would seem plausible, also a jump from Type 054A straight to Type 059 would be a qauntum leap in terms of technology, it would be like from Type 052 destroyer to Type 052C without the "B"
plus 16 Type 054A although a good number is not really alot when you think of 053s they need replacing, but now they also have Type 056 to throw into the mix
China will continue its trend of making frigates and destroyers, maybe in the ratio of 2:1 per year in the coming years, its hard to see them stopping either one of them
even if Type 054A production continues till ~2018 they can still slip in 8 Type 054Bs before 2023