054/A FFG Thread II

[Blitzo]

24 commissioned. How many more are launched and outfitting or in trials?

actually 25 commissioned.
https://www.sinodefenceforum.com/plan-type-054-ffg-thread-ii.t4149/page-335#post-461032

there are two other ships which are in fitting out, total of 27 in water (25 commissioned + 2 fitting out/launched)

 

[antiterror13]

Yeah I think it was pretty obvious when we first saw the winged/slant launched missile that it was bigger than anything that the 054A's VLS could launch.

I mean, the slant launched ASROC missile is launched from the same box launcher as a YJ-83, it's in a completely different weight class to what 054A's VL ASROC is, not to mention its aerodynamic configuration, propulsion etc.

I'm sure both the 054A's VLA and the winged ASROC can be guided in similar ways with offboard datalinks and so on... however the latter is most definitely a different beast to the former.
That said, I wouldn't be surprised if the winged ASROC is able to be launched from the larger sized universal VLS aboard 052D and 055

How much bigger is VLS on 052D/055 than on 054A? .. my apologies if this is very obvious question

 

[Blitzo]

How much bigger is VLS on 052D/055 than on 054A? .. my apologies if this is very obvious question

we don't have dimensions for 054A's VLS, but going by photos it is probably no bigger than the Mk-41 or SYLVER, probably smaller.
the universal VLS otoh is much bigger than Mk-41 and SYLVER, at 0.85m diameter per cell, so in turn it is probably significantly bigger than the 054A VLS

 

[antiterror13]

we don't have dimensions for 054A's VLS, but going by photos it is probably no bigger than the Mk-41 or SYLVER, probably smaller.
the universal VLS otoh is much bigger than Mk-41 and SYLVER, at 0.85m diameter per cell, so in turn it is probably significantly bigger than the 054A VLS

I believe its just a matter of time when PLAN will have decent quad-pack VLS on UVLS (0.85m) .... developing decent MR SAM with diameter ~0.35-0.40m with ~50km range shouldn't be a problem for China .. or perhaps China already has it

not sure whether China would bother developing quad-pack SAM on 054A VLS, another option (maybe better) just install 1 × HHQ-10 short range SAM in 24-cell launcher

 

[Iron Man]

I believe its just a matter of time when PLAN will have decent quad-pack VLS on UVLS (0.85m) .... developing decent MR SAM with diameter ~0.35-0.40m with ~50km range shouldn't be a problem for China .. or perhaps China already has it

not sure whether China would bother developing quad-pack SAM on 054A VLS, another option (maybe better) just install 1 × HHQ-10 short range SAM in 24-cell launcher

This is why it would behoove the PLAN to design a 054B with 32 universal cells instead of 32 HHQ-16 cells. It could easily accomplish this in a hull similar to the 054A by splitting them into 2 banks of 16 cells each, with the second bank amidships so it could house the 4-deck high 9m strike length VLS modules.

 

[SinoSoldier]

This is why it would behoove the PLAN to design a 054B with 32 universal cells instead of 32 HHQ-16 cells. It could easily accomplish this in a hull similar to the 054A by splitting them into 2 banks of 16 cells each, with the second bank amidships so it could house the 4-deck high 9m strike length VLS modules.

#TodayILearned that the Type 052D has only sixteen 9-meter VLS cells, meaning that it could hold only sixteen YJ-18A AShMs or future LACMs. It seems that the PLAN wishes to delegate specific vessels for specific tasks (055 for land/surface warfare, 052C/D for AAW, 054A/B for ASW); having strike-length universal VLS cells on a 054 variant is a slim prospect at best.

 

[Totoro]

7 meter length should be enough for all weapons on 054b. They don't need to be carrying the biggest missiles around, there are plenty of other assets for those. 054b should be a general purpose frigate with an accent on ASW. And first thing that needs to be done with new VLS is offer it in 4 cell modules as well as offering a 5 meter length variant. It would allow 24 cells to fit in space where 054a now holds its front VLS well. Also, 5 meter long cell would offer good compromise between fully utilizing the space for quadpacking missiles and saving on deck penetration.

 

[Iron Man]

#TodayILearned that the Type 052D has only sixteen 9-meter VLS cells, meaning that it could hold only sixteen YJ-18A AShMs or future LACMs. It seems that the PLAN wishes to delegate specific vessels for specific tasks (055 for land/surface warfare, 052C/D for AAW, 054A/B for ASW); having strike-length universal VLS cells on a 054 variant is a slim prospect at best.

Where are you getting this information from? Provide a link.

 

[Iron Man]

7 meter length should be enough for all weapons on 054b. They don't need to be carrying the biggest missiles around, there are plenty of other assets for those. 054b should be a general purpose frigate with an accent on ASW. And first thing that needs to be done with new VLS is offer it in 4 cell modules as well as offering a 5 meter length variant. It would allow 24 cells to fit in space where 054a now holds its front VLS well. Also, 5 meter long cell would offer good compromise between fully utilizing the space for quadpacking missiles and saving on deck penetration.

7m VL cells wouldn't be able to load an ASCM, which would require the 054B to embark traditional slant launchers with their RCS penalty and lack of omnidirectionality. 5m VL cells wouldn't even be able to load an HHQ-16, let alone any of the other missiles.

 

[SinoSoldier]

Where are you getting this information from? Provide a link.

Henri K., a reputable Chinese source (weibo.com/1403915120/FagzudT7a), and a few others. Henri K. claims he got the information from an employee of the 701st Institute at CSSC. The running theory is that the sixteen cells are the only ones with enough below-deck space to accommodate the 9-meter module.

The rear VLS bank is apparently situated above the prop shafts while the front ones, well, I don't know why the 16 other bow VLS cells can't take the 9 m canisters.