054/A FFG Thread II
- Thread starter tphuang
- Start date
Maybe, but the fact they kept one antenna --- the datalink or SATCOM covered with a tarp of blue, white and red stripes --- suggest the ship is for keeps. See the last picture.
They should seize this opportunity and use these two ships as testing grounds for a comprehensive 054a class upgrade as well. Basically make them lead ships for a modernization standard that would be applied to the entire class of 30+ ships. And that means new radars, sensors, new missiles, new command and control internals, perhaps even a pad capable of housing z20, even though that would likely require a lot of structural work.
If you compare this picture of 526 Wenzhou in December 13 of 2015, and compare it to the pictures above, the platform where the HQ-7's Type 345 radar has been chopped off. The holes for the HQ-7 launcher and its missile cache has also been sealed off but they have not removed the platform. If you compare it with the 051B's refit, the Shenzhen had its entire platform that supported the HQ-7 and its missile cache completely removed so they can put the VLS low and nearly flush with the deck. They also have not removed the pedestal on top of the hanger that holds the Type 347 or 349 radar that controls the AK-630 guns.
Pic below courtesy of JSMDF.
Pic below courtesy of JSMDF.
If they are leaving the HQ-7 platform intact does that not make it rather more difficult to fit VLS? The shape does not exactly lend itself to a 32-cell grid as on the 054As.
Don't tell me it is going to be like 053H3, i.e. HQ-10 alone...
We will see. If they kept the platform, it may only allow for 16 cells but the cells can go deeper. I got a whole range of possibilities for a refit from low end to high end.
High End -- Closer to 054B approach.
I suspect the dual sided AESA radar we have seen on Test Ship 892 might support HQ-9 early to mid phase guidance, like a mini Type 346, and using it on the 054B might pave the way of using HQ-9 on the frigate. On an 054 refit, this radar will grace the top of the mast replacing the Type 360S, with 16 cell U-VLS with HQ-9, plus a 24 cell HQ-10 launcher. Smaller dual sided AESA radar (Type 383?) like you see on the Type 075, will replace the Type 364 radar on the aft mast.
Mid End -- Closer to 054A approach.
Type 382 replaces the Type 360 search radar. 16 cell H/AJK-16 VLS with HQ-16, plus two illuminators on top of the bridge. 24 missile HQ-10 launcher.
Low End -- Closer to 053H3 refit approach.
24 cell HQ-10 launcher in the front. Type 360S radar retained or replaced with Type 363 (radar on Type 056). Type 347 radar on the pedestal over the hanger is replaced with Type 349.
All proposed configurations updated to Type 726-3 ECM.
The CIWS at the aft side has three possible configurations, depending on how much they want to spend.
1. Two Type 1130.
2. Two 730B turrets with a Type 347 radar on the pedestal above the hanger.
3. Retain the four AK-630 guns. Either keep the Type 347 radar or replace with the Type 349. The Type 349 radar is similar to the Type 347 but it has a flat end at the cone dome and is seen working as the gunnery radar for the AK-630s on the Type 071 and the Sovremenny refits. Its also used as the landing radar on the Liaoning, Shandong and 075.
I am leaning that they will retain the front gun and keep the Type 344 gunnery radar on the platform. If they have to put the 76mm gun, they will replace the Type 344 with a Type 347 on the platform, which is additional cost.
There is some progress on the 054 refit front, gathered some pics from different sources including from the PDF via LKJ86.
This is how one of the 054 looked pre-refit as of 2015. This image is courtesy of the JSMDF.
Note where the Type 344 and 345 radars are standing on top of the bridge. There is a platform for the Type 345 radar, which acts as the FCR for the HQ-7, and on top of that, a second platform for the Type 344 radar, which is the FCR for the main 90mm gun. Also note towards the rear, on top of the hanger, there is a platform with a Type 347 radar on it, this acts as the fire control radar for the four AK-630 guns.
Here one of the ships as she is moored, and has been totally stripped. For now the two platforms are preserved.
But once the ship is in dry dock, some work has been taking place. Now notice the platform for the Type 345 radar has been removed. We are not going to see this radar used again, as the HQ-7 has been removed and all the places where the HQ-7 launcher and cache would occupy is now sealed off. But note that the platform for the Type 344 radar is still there.
In the latest picture, the platform for the Type 344 gunnery radar has been removed. This points to the Type 344 radar is not going to be used with this ship anymore, and by direct correlation, the guns it services, which is either the single 90mm gun, twin 100mm gun or the 127mm gun you see on destroyers. This means the previous main gun is no more, and won't be returned in the refit. Now the space on top of the bridge looks much more like a Type 054A's. At this point, its likely a Type 347 fire control radar will be installed instead, and with that radar, the ship gets your typical 76mm gun.
The large clearance of space on top of the bridge opens the door to a lot of things, such as installation of other radars and so on. On the 054A, this space is occupied by the dome of a Type 366 antiship radar and two Front Domes as targeting for the HQ-16.
Next picture we see portable air conditioning and oxygen bottles used for welding. So something is going on underneath the former HQ-7 platform.
Next is the picture at the back. The platform on top of the hanger is for a Type 347 radar, which is used for gunnery fire control for the AK-630s. It has not been removed, and it is even primered for a new paint. The retention of the platform suggests they may put a radar or something on it. Its possible the Type 347 radar there will be returned and the ship will keep its four AK-630 CIWS. They might also change the Type 347 radar there to the Type 349, which is similar to the 347 but has a flat face dome instead of a conical rice farmer hat dome. The Type 349 is used on the Type 071 and on the 136/137 DD refits as the gunnery fire control for the AK-630s, so the 349 is the current standard FCR for use with these guns.
There is also a few other possibilities for this platform's retention is that it can be for a SATCOM, or they might put a Type 517 or even a Type 520 (the 052DL's "Fly Swatter"). My opinion is that these possibilities might be lower but anything can go. But for now I lean that a Type 347 or 349 will be installed there with the Type 349 as the stronger possibility, and the four AK-630s will be retained, as in the Chinese version with the stealth turrets.
This is how one of the 054 looked pre-refit as of 2015. This image is courtesy of the JSMDF.
Note where the Type 344 and 345 radars are standing on top of the bridge. There is a platform for the Type 345 radar, which acts as the FCR for the HQ-7, and on top of that, a second platform for the Type 344 radar, which is the FCR for the main 90mm gun. Also note towards the rear, on top of the hanger, there is a platform with a Type 347 radar on it, this acts as the fire control radar for the four AK-630 guns.
Here one of the ships as she is moored, and has been totally stripped. For now the two platforms are preserved.
But once the ship is in dry dock, some work has been taking place. Now notice the platform for the Type 345 radar has been removed. We are not going to see this radar used again, as the HQ-7 has been removed and all the places where the HQ-7 launcher and cache would occupy is now sealed off. But note that the platform for the Type 344 radar is still there.
In the latest picture, the platform for the Type 344 gunnery radar has been removed. This points to the Type 344 radar is not going to be used with this ship anymore, and by direct correlation, the guns it services, which is either the single 90mm gun, twin 100mm gun or the 127mm gun you see on destroyers. This means the previous main gun is no more, and won't be returned in the refit. Now the space on top of the bridge looks much more like a Type 054A's. At this point, its likely a Type 347 fire control radar will be installed instead, and with that radar, the ship gets your typical 76mm gun.
The large clearance of space on top of the bridge opens the door to a lot of things, such as installation of other radars and so on. On the 054A, this space is occupied by the dome of a Type 366 antiship radar and two Front Domes as targeting for the HQ-16.
Next picture we see portable air conditioning and oxygen bottles used for welding. So something is going on underneath the former HQ-7 platform.
Next is the picture at the back. The platform on top of the hanger is for a Type 347 radar, which is used for gunnery fire control for the AK-630s. It has not been removed, and it is even primered for a new paint. The retention of the platform suggests they may put a radar or something on it. Its possible the Type 347 radar there will be returned and the ship will keep its four AK-630 CIWS. They might also change the Type 347 radar there to the Type 349, which is similar to the 347 but has a flat face dome instead of a conical rice farmer hat dome. The Type 349 is used on the Type 071 and on the 136/137 DD refits as the gunnery fire control for the AK-630s, so the 349 is the current standard FCR for use with these guns.
There is also a few other possibilities for this platform's retention is that it can be for a SATCOM, or they might put a Type 517 or even a Type 520 (the 052DL's "Fly Swatter"). My opinion is that these possibilities might be lower but anything can go. But for now I lean that a Type 347 or 349 will be installed there with the Type 349 as the stronger possibility, and the four AK-630s will be retained, as in the Chinese version with the stealth turrets.
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This is the picture of the rear part of the ship I should have posted. Again, it shows the platform on top of the rear hanger. This platform is used for the Type 347 radar that is used with the AK-630. A similar platform is present on the 054A/P but it can be used for something else, likely the export version of the Type 517 already in service with the Pakistani Navy on the F22P. This platform is being preserved for further use. Also note a flat panel satcom or datalink with a circular dome that is wrapped in tarp near the platform. This was installed while the ship was in service before entering into refit. They don't seem to have any need to replace that and is preserving it for future use. If you check the funnel, there is more of this blue, red and white striped tarp laid down in preparation for something, and I think they are going to use that tarp to wrap around something when it is installed, possibly the secondary radar that goes into the mast, which is either a Type 364 radar or its replacement.
