054/A FFG Thread II

[AndrewS]

Suppose PLAN is satisfied with the frigate force size of 52 054A, then the next generation of frigate will get into service around 2040. I can't imagine what kind of ship it will be.

The first Type-054B is supposed to be built during the 2021-2025 period

 

[szbd]

The first Type-054B is supposed to be built during the 2021-2025 period

No change of plan given 20 new 054As?

 

[szbd]

From a strategy point of view, I think that for the next 10 years, the Chinese fleet needs to be designed with operations up to the 2nd Island Chain

In a high-intensity conflict, it's not realistic for the Chinese Navy to operate beyond.
They would need enough carriers/submarines to win a blue water battle

There are not only China and US on this world. PLAN is already a blue water navy for sure.

 

[AndrewS]

But with the same logic, PLAN don't have to build the 055 either, at least not for now.

I agree that PLAN still need 054-sized ASW ships, but it's also good time to start to develop a larger ASW frigate for the future.

You can see they aren't building too many Type-055s compared to Type-052Ds. See the 5 year periods below

2016-2020 16x Type-052D + 8x Type-055
2021-2025 20x Type-052D + 8x Type-055 (rumoured)

Plus remember the Type-055 has a number of capabilities which the Type-052D doesn't have
This includes command facilities for a task group
And if you do need large numbers of VLS cell, a Type-055 is more cost-efficient than a Type-052D

 

[blindsight]

No change of plan given 20 new 054As?

Very likely in parallel

 

[blindsight]

You can see they aren't building too many Type-055s compared to Type-052Ds. See the 5 year periods below

2016-2020 16x Type-052D + 8x Type-055
2021-2025 20x Type-052D + 8x Type-055 (rumoured)

Plus remember the Type-055 has a number of capabilities which the Type-052D doesn't have
This includes command facilities for a task group
And if you do need large numbers of VLS cell, a Type-055 is more cost-efficient than a Type-052D

2 052Ds have more U-VLS cells than 1 055, the cost is a bit higher too, but quantity always matters. I agree that the current focus of PLAN should be within the 2nd island chain. However, assets such as the 055 and 003 were definitely designed with something beyond that in mind. Similarly, I suggest they should start to build larger ASW frigates too. They're probably doing it, but if the designation is really the rumored 054B, I don't know whether that's a good move, since that designation implies a diesel-powered frigate of roughly the size of the 054A...

 

[Kich]

054B is what this community is calling it. We don't actually know the official designation.
Best to call it 05X FFG, but everyone prefers 054B.

It could be 057 or 054B in the end.

 

[Kich]

The PLAN have now effective or will soon effective replace most of their legacy ships with modern ones.

The focus now which is the new 5 year plan is pure numbers. They need numbers or in other words more VLS cells.

If you assume that any future conflict in the pacific with the US includes at least JSDMF forces, then you need to churn more numbers of green-water ASW FFG (the 054A) to handle their subs and more light-destroyers (052D) to quickly ramp VLS cell counts. This line of thinking makes sense.
Type-055 are capital ships and not the main-workhorse so no need to ramp up their numbers as much as the 052D.

At the same time, they don't want to lose sight of the future which is why they are con-currently building the next FFG, a true blue-water FFG for escort roles. We might also see some beginnings of Type-052D replacement, a mid-size DDG. I don't think there will be a 052E. It's possible the next 20 052D might feature some upgrades but maybe not signficant enough to be dubbed 052E.

 

[Tam]

Ah yes, They are closer to SHORAD than medium range SAMs




Gulf of Aden missions are a nice to have for the next 10 years. It's good for some training, but the Western Pacific is where any high-intensity conflict will be decided. If you put gas turbines on a Frigate, you'll get enough speed to keep up with carrier groups and also the inherent smoothness/quietness.




I agree ships are getting larger, but the they don't have to grow that much in size
Other navies have a requirement for very long-range ships because they have to travel vast distances, whereas Chinese ships do not

When I was referring to the OH Perry, I was referring to both its size and speed, given that it was using gas turbines

Gas turbines is the world wide norm for a frigate, having all diesel engines is the exception and the outlier. The classes of frigates in this world that are all diesel can be counted by a single hand.

Ships are getting larger, and its not because of very long range. Its because a larger ship takes better battle damage, is more comfortable to live in for longer periods, and is able to carry larger equipment, sensors, weapons, computing back ends, etc,.

Ships are growing bigger and yet I don't see navies traveling that far. When they do, its still ranges that can still be covered by OHP sized boats. The Admiral Gorshkov is closer to the size of 054A than a 052D, somewhere in between, and yet is able to circumvent the world. European navies travel mostly to the Atlantic, that's not very far. Going down to the Indian Ocean via Suez Canal, that ain't far either.

 

[Tam]

No change of plan given 20 new 054As?

It seems the 054B will be built in parallel.