China does have the budget now to produce much higher end ships than what they could in 2005 when 054A was first launched. Its a matter of opportunity cost as well. If I assume 054B to have similar sailor count. That means those sailors could be much more efficient and capable if they are provided with a ship with better armament. So, 100 054A vs 100 frigate with higher end armament such as better ASHM missile or better Air Defense missile.
Overall, They raised my expectation by having such a nice ship with so much bigger displacement. They also put a nice sensor suit as well. But then the weapons turned out to be exactly the same. So, that dampened the excitement quite a bit about this ship.
Now my only hope is that type 054B is like OG type 054, a test bed for a new hull. OG type 054 had only 2 ships in production. It also had a worse armament. Then 054A quickly came along with a much better armament package but kept the same hull and propulsion.
Type 054B certainly has improved weapons compared with type 054A, and improved electronic gear that detect, track and weapon guidance, and also improved electronic warfare gear.
The enlarged displacement of type 054B compare to type 054A is mainly for endurance and range, to stay with the fleet which it is providing escort. I guessed that the decision to enlarge the displacement could probably a lesson learned during long distance fleet deployment in which short coming of type 054A on areas like crew comfort, shorter durations due to small storage for fuel, water, food, smaller helicopter deck and others.
In fleet deployment each of the ship types (type 055, 052d and 054A) have assigned area for layer defense. Type 055 may have defense up to 500km, type 052D has defense area may be up to 100-300 km, and type 054A (to be replaced by type 054B in roles) from 10km to 100 km. This is how a layer fleet defense work.
You don't need to armed type 054B to the teeth because there is no such need in PLAN doctrine. Big missile works are give to type 055 and 052D. Type 054B is to ensure any enemy missiles that penetrate defenses of type 055 and type 052D will be taken care of.
@sequ, I am sure PLAN is no stupid sleeping old man with lesser IQ than 99% of us here. Type 054B certainly is not equiped with 40 year old Soviet sensors. What you cannot see inside the ship's commande center matters. China's electronic tech can be on par with USA. It is the biggest joke to compare with the old Soviet gear. Their Mars landing mission and Dark side of the Moon landing mission proved that. Just because you don't see them doesn't mean they don't have them inside type 054B.
