054/A FFG Thread II
- Thread starter tphuang
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asif iqbal
Lieutenant General
Stunning production run with the Type 054A and it's variants
25 in the water with 2 x Type 054 too
Great design !
25 in the water with 2 x Type 054 too
Great design !
Yes a stunning production run, but getting a bit long in the tooth, there is a danger of block oblescense. Time to move on to a newer design similar to what the European have
I believe the interior of the Mk 41 cell is 650mm. I wouldn't be surprised if the 054A version has identical or nearly identical dimensions.
The Europeans make destroyers and call them "frigates" (like how the Japanese make carriers and call them "destroyers") so this is not really a valid comparison. There is no danger of "block obsolescence" for the 054A. It is doing its job as a low-cost multirole platform more than adequately and will probably continue to serve in future CSGs, primarily as ASW platforms.
That said, a successor like the 054B or whatever name it will be called, will likely be a more AAW-oriented platform than the 054A given the widely-held assumption that it will incorporate an advanced AESA radar in conjunction with universal VLS and quad-packed medium range air defense missiles. I can see it serving in the same role as the JMSDF's Akizuki class destroyer as local air defense protection for the larger ships like the 052D and 055, who in turn will provide fleet-wide air defense. But even with the introduction of a platform like the "054B", the 054A would continue to have a valuable role in a CSG as an ASW frigate, incidentally a role that I suspect will also be given to the older, less capable destroyers in the PLAN inventory like the 051B, Sovremenny, and 052B.
I doubt the 054A with it's diesel engines can keep up with a carrier battle group, there exist a you tube clip of a Australian ANZAC class frigate being left behind in the wake of a Nimitz class carrier as she accelerate to battle station. What i had in mind when I mention about european frigates i am refering more of the Danish ones.
A big difference is that the Liaoning has gas turbines instead of nuclear power plants. That means it is slower plus wouldn't want to be steaming at sustained high speeds anyway.
And the primary weapon of an ASW frigate is acknowledged to be its helicopter, rather than the frigate itself.
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While the top speed of a Nimitz carrier is classified, it is certainly in the 30's, possibly even high 30's (knots), so this would not be the best comparison for pretty much any surface combatant. A 054A with top speed in the high 20's would be adequate for fleet escort.
If you are referring to the Iver Huitfeldt class "frigates", these ships displace 6,600 tons full load and are actually a perfect example of the kind of naming deception that European navies use to describe their ships.
asif iqbal
Lieutenant General
26th Type 054A spotted ! Wow