Possibly. I can't get a good look on my system. Looks like only pointing to one side, the Port side. If it is, possibly only one set of canisters installed at this time.
054B/new generation frigate
- Thread starter Blitzo
- Start date
kwaigonegin
Colonel
I guess that settles it.
No Midship VLS.
I'm not surprised by this since like I wrote before, they built this ship just to stretch it out for the Z-20 and then put on a better radar suite on it (possibly for newer HQ-16 missiles); essentially borrowing from the current tech. They wanted a faster ship; to keep up with others. The ship got bigger because of these requirements.
The integrated masts and that double-sided radar is throwing many off, leaving expectation that this ship should be a next gen FFG apart from the 054A when in reality that's not what PLAN was going for. They are pretty satisfied with 054A and wanted something marginally better.
I think PLAN feels it needs numbers more than a new radical design to maintain their quantity lead over JP, SK, US, and others. Marginal redesign of the 054A into 054B was faster than a complete radically new FFG which might take time.
I say this but then they have just unveil a new Covette, Type 057 possibly, so who really knows why they didn't just redesign and introduce a newer class of FFG. I don't know anything.
Updates on Huangpu-Wenchong by @para80 on Twitter:
Seems like the 054B will only have 2 ships in the 1st batch. Perhaps the PLAN wants to evaluate the performance from these two first before opting for serial production.
Seems like the 054B will only have 2 ships in the 1st batch. Perhaps the PLAN wants to evaluate the performance from these two first before opting for serial production.
kwaigonegin
Colonel
Personally I think this would be a mistake because we will be seeing a few new classes of FFGs coming online from Constellation to T 26 to upgraded FREMM very soon.
Hopefully 54B has a very good ASW suite if their primary role is ASW screens over PLAN's future CSG
The lack of mid section VLS may not be the only disappointment. In fact, the 054B could end up being another CODAD powered frigate as opposed to IEP or COGAD. Think of Singapore’s La Fayette frigates but with less missiles. Hope I am wrong.
kwaigonegin
Colonel
Which would be quite inexcusable for a new class of 6k+ ton warship launched in late 2023 and potentially being the future workhorse of PLAN.
Maybe, maybe not. As usual that is just my guess. But its notable neither yard immediately follows up with more samples for now. Which again seems pretty normal and meaningful for PLAN given they need some time to sort out a new design. Who knows, we may even get a prettier gun on the next boats (this is a joke).
Why/why?
As you've just said, we're talking about a workhorse, not about cars bought to impress chicks. Not even a 'frontline' combatant.
Both light ASCM and Diesel p/plant are strong optimizations, and those are exactly 'workhorse' optimizations. For anything first line, there are over 30 052C/D, and their numbers still grow and grow.
antiterror13
Brigadier
and 8 unit super modern Type 055 already active and the number also growing quickly and potentially may reach 24 or even more