054B/new generation frigate

Blitzo said:

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

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And why new 2-plate X-band AESA can't be used for it in the first place...

p.s. 4 rectangular arrays under it looks exactly like other modern Chinese high-bandwidth CeC antennas, no?

antiterror13 said:

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

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Sir same propulsion system with Type 54 class frigate (Diesel) thus the designation stay the same.

test1979 said:

Is it possible that the antenna in the red frame is the irradiation radar of hq-16fe?
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Most likely it is IFF. Similar panels have been seen in many ships, just different locations. But they usually are set closest to the radar.

As for the CEC, it's exactly just right above this IFF bar array, underneath the radar panel hanging like a chin. You need to see the front of the ship to see it or look at the previously published CGI.

Of course it's also possible the longer bar is the CEC and the small rectangle under the radar like a chin is the IFF. However going by the proportions and aspect ratios of these on other ships --- these are not brand new --- the small rectangle is the CEC and the bar is the IFF.

I'll mark the CEC in blue.

Hm, wouldn't it be better if CEC arrays would not be turning?

Totoro said:

Hm, wouldn't it be better if CEC arrays would not be turning?

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It allows for 360 coverage. The beams can be contrarotating as the panels rotate allowing for the beam to stay on its targeted receiver.

Why is the IFF bigger? Because it's on the L band. There's more physical space separation between the elements. IFF needs to be long ranged enough to match the search radar, allowing to interrogate any potential threat as friend or for as far away from the ship as possible as soon as the radar can detect it.

The CEC can be operating on a much higher frequency than the IFF and I'm assuming it is on C band. The separation of the elements will reflect that of the frequency so these elements are going to be much closer, creating a smaller but denser array. A higher frequency means a higher bandwidth and C-band has been used for hi speed Wifi and 5G.

There are two diamond thingies on the side of the masts. I believe these are ECM units but ones that are never seen before so these are a new design.

Totoro said:

Hm, wouldn't it be better if CEC arrays would not be turning?

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In case of rotating radar the CEC update rate is dependent on radar rotation speed, so nothing is lost by having CEC array move together with the radar.

antiterror13 said:

No confirmation yet, but it is likely the case, but the missile likely YJ-12 instead of old YJ-83

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Well then. The Constellation will likely have 8 more ASMs than the 054B, a somewhat marginal increase in surface combat firepower. But if the 054B uses the same VLS as the 052D/055, it could have more options for hypersonic weapons.

A question, why is it assumed by many that the frigate is going to use the YJ-12 missile instead of YJ-83 that its predecessor had? Has there been any info on that from a Chinese source?

that middle part is really long, enough room for ASM AND VLS. I hope.

Blitzo said:

The primary twin sided AESA on the mast should be flush with the base.

When we've seen it being tested on a test ship a few years ago we could see how the base extended down to cover the smaller array below the primary array.

I suspect it's not covered here because it is being launched and as part of the fitting out process there is still work that needs access to the mounted array interior, and will only be fully covered once it's nearly done.

View attachment 117744


Like this:
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Cool. Looking forward to seeing it all fitted out soon.