054/A FFG Thread II

[by78]

Some nice images from a regular exercise...

 

[The Observer]

looking at the type 1130 CIWS I'm curious if they can integrate the HHQ-10 at the side of the turret creating something like Pantsir CIWS. IMO there's no need for the complicated missile reloader that necessitate deck penetration, just reload manually like the usual HHQ-10. I'm pretty sure they've shown the concept at Zhuhai airshow before.

 

[Tam]

looking at the type 1130 CIWS I'm curious if they can integrate the HHQ-10 at the side of the turret creating something like Pantsir CIWS. IMO there's no need for the complicated missile reloader that necessitate deck penetration, just reload manually like the usual HHQ-10. I'm pretty sure they've shown the concept at Zhuhai airshow before.

This can work if the missile is a MANPADS that uses command guidance via optical, or has an IR head that can be stored on room temperatures such as the Strela, maybe you can do it that way. But the HHQ-10 has an IR head that works more like a the seeker of IR-AAMs you see in fighter jets, like PL-8 or PL-10. To achieve a high level of sensitivity, the head has to be cooled, and the entire HHQ-10 launcher itself appears to have a refrigeration unit underneath that ducts cold air to the seeker heads. The missiles are meant to be stored in a way the head is under refrigerated condition.

 

[The Observer]

This can work if the missile is a MANPADS that uses command guidance via optical, or has an IR head that can be stored on room temperatures such as the Strela, maybe you can do it that way. But the HHQ-10 has an IR head that works more like a the seeker of IR-AAMs you see in fighter jets, like PL-8 or PL-10. To achieve a high level of sensitivity, the head has to be cooled, and the entire HHQ-10 launcher itself appears to have a refrigeration unit underneath that ducts cold air to the seeker heads. The missiles are meant to be stored in a way the head is under refrigerated condition.

View attachment 60243View attachment 60244View attachment 60245View attachment 60246

Hmm didn't notice that detail before. Too bad then.

 

[by78]

FFG 601 Nantong.

 

[Tam]

Beautiful example of 054A final batch.

 

[by78]

More high-resolution magazine scans...

 

[by78]

I believe this is Pakistan's 054A frigate. Construction is going briskly.

 

[asif iqbal]

Beautiful it’s coming together

cant wait for delivery

 

[Tam]

Should be 529, the first 054A.

I don't think so and why?

Because this.


This array was never installed on the first 054A, and they were never installed on the 054A during their build period. Rather, they were all retrofitted to all the 054A much, much later. In fact, these antennas never appeared until around the 2017 time frame, and they were retrofitted first on the 052C, where they appear on top of the bridge, right before the Type 366 radar. This array first appeared on Type 054A frigate, but it was actually first on top of the bridge, and on later Type 054A, then moved to the hanger, first at the back, then the sides, and it even differs ship to ship. Putting it on top and aft of the hanger is also a new location I have not seen for the 054A. Since then I use this antenna as a key detail to indicate whether the 054A image is old or recent.

This antenna is also never built into the 052D during their construction, and is only retrofitted to some 052D, as most still don't have it due to being a project still in progress. We will see if they are added to the 052D that are currently in construction right now. These are now included in the latest batch of 056A being fitted.

So to have this array installed on a 054A right during its construction is news to me.