054B/new generation frigate

sndef888 said:

The space amidships looks much bigger than expected for just slanted launchers

Any top view photos to see if there are any structures there?

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Just slightly.

Another photograph of the 054B FFG, taken from an elevated position. Posted by @一蓑烟雨任平生sjs on Weibo.


Notice the protrusion deck in front of the aft superstructure. Another protrusion deck behind the fore superstructure is barely visible, though I can't be sure if that's actually the case here...

Looks like @大包CG is quite close with his CGI...

Now predictably western OSINTs on twitter are calling it French-inspired/copy... have they not heard of 055?

ACuriousPLAFan said:

Just slightly.

Another photograph of the 054B FFG, taken from an elevated position. Posted by @一蓑烟雨任平生sjs on Weibo.

View attachment 117761
Notice the protrusion deck in front of the aft superstructure. Another protrusion deck behind the fore superstructure is barely visible, though I can't be sure if that's actually the case here...

Looks like @大包CG is quite close with his CGI...

Click to expand...

Just got this tweet …

Deino said:

Just got this tweet …

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1695728669757759798

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Seems like those weapons are the real deal, not merely mockups as I've seen some claimed on Weibo and Twitter...

RIP to all those who viewed that main gun turret as being aesthetically ugly. Gotta stuck with that view for 30+ years or more XD

Deino said:

Just got this tweet …

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1695728669757759798

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Also @Deino kindly ask your friend to take a couple photos while looking towards the drydock where the 1st 054B FFG was launched yesterday. We want to see the progress of the other FFG hull and the 4th 075 LHD

High-resolution images of good clarity.

Is it possible that the antenna in the red frame is the irradiation radar of hq-16fe?

test1979 said:

Is it possible that the antenna in the red frame is the irradiation radar of hq-16fe?
View attachment 117766

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Most likely ECM? BUT a question among the expert, IF yes will it affect the Main radar performance?

test1979 said:

Is it possible that the antenna in the red frame is the irradiation radar of hq-16fe?
View attachment 117766

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Do you mean illumination rather than irradiation?

HQ-16FE is capable of active radar homing as well as SARH, so the ship doesn't need illumination if the onboard radar and datalinks can support ARH.
And again, we don't know if 054B is using HQ-16FE, or a different HQ-16 variant, or indeed what the actual variety of missiles the VLS is compatible with.


Those four arrays really could be for anything. CeC, EW, ESM.

There's no reason to suspect they have to be for illumination.

Is there any confirmation that this baby be called 054B ? I think it deserves a new number (e.g. 057)

Also the displacement is likely ~50% more than 054A (~6,000 tonnes )

Will be interesting too whether it needs less crew than 054A