054B/new generation frigate

Totoro said:

Both plan and planaf could use a new missile anyway. Something more compact than a yj12 or yj18, something that a jh7 could carry and that could fit in the 7m long uvls. Remains to be seen whether such a missile is indeed in development.

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A Chinese equivalent of LRASM?

Bltizo said:

If you are changing and improving the ship's AAW sensors and it's overall combat management system, retaining the H/AJK16 VLS would be a rather strange decision unless it were also capable of carrying the quad packed 3-5.


So I agree obviously that the UVLS isn't the end all in terms of advancements that 054B should enjoy. But if 054B is likely the see the major advancements in propulsion, ASW capabilities, and AAW sensors (likely all requiring an increase in overall displacement too), then not including the UVLS will be a bit weird imo.

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what is "quad packed 3-5" ?

Arienai said:

The rumor about 054B was around for very long but I think around the end of 2018 (or earlier 2019? Can't remember) A bunch of people said the program's been cancelled. I believe the new frigate we'll see is no longer the XX4B labeled in this picture.

The new ship will be larger, but most importantly, faster, and it's impossible to do that with all diesel power. The new ship is going to use a new engine system, and accidentally or not, PLAN's warships under the same class all use the same power solution (steam for 051/051B/051C, CODOG for 052/B/C/D, 2+2 diesel (different types) for 053 variants, 4 * 16PA6 diesel for 054/A, COGAG for 055, 2 PA6 diesel for 056/A). Thus I think the new frigate will be called 057...

But personally I don't really care what it's called, as long as it gets the job done...

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If new frigate gets a 1GT + 2D configuration like Fremm or Sachsen class, it likely gets a new designation like 057.

Its only one GT short of the 052.

There are modern frigates that have 2GT+2D configuration like 052X, including Admiral Grigorovich, Admiral Gorshkov, Navantia F100-F110 class, De Seven Provincien class. If you build a cheaper frigate out of the 052X platform, will you still call it a Type 052X?

On the other hand, there is a large frigate that use only, all four diesel engines, and this is a front line, battle frigate. This is the Danish Iver Huitfeldt class, whose displacement on full is about over 6,600 tons. This baby is armed to the hilt, 32 Mk.41 VLS plus 2 Mk.56 VLS for ESSM, room enough for up to 16 Harpoons, and 2 x 76mm Oto guns to boot. Its got a SMART L radar and a set of Thales APAR. All the bang is achieved with a remarkable low price of $325 million a ship, although they recycled parts from decommissioned ships to help reach that. The design is now the basis for the Royal Navy's Type 31 frigate.

I don't care about what engine configuration it will use, whether it will be 1GT + 2D, or 4D, just saying four diesel engines is still relevant, plus every ship that requires less GT, means one more GT that can be used to build a Type 055.

Iver Huitfeldt class is powered by four 8.2MW MTU diesels.

Any estimate when it might start construction?

Tam said:

If new frigate gets a 1GT + 2D configuration like Fremm or Sachsen class, it likely gets a new designation like 057.

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Actually, the FREMMs have 4 diesel turbine generators which drive the electric motors for speeds up to 17 knots. The FFG(X) also inherits the 4 DTG design. This is very different from the 4 diesel engine configuration of Iver Huitfeldt class.

Arienai said:

it's going to be a bit over 5k tons and will have 1 gas turbine & 2 diesels, with max speed over 30 knots.

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This could mean a typical CODAG configuration which is well capable of making 30kts and possible beyond with the right power package and prove economical too. Though I must admit, I long to see a CODLAG driven platform within the PLAN.

sndef888 said:

Any estimate when it might start construction?

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At this point, we don't really know. The most likely contractor would be Hudong Zhonghua, which is one of the firms that made the Type 054A, and is generally the leading shipyard that builds the frigates. Its possible they can already be building modules inside the factories near the drydocks but you won't have any visual confirmation until the modules are brought out to the dry docks for assembly, and the shape of a ship begins to occur. Currently the dry docks are being used for Pakistan's Type 054A/P order, and assembly for any next gen frigate isn't going to happen until the Pakistan frigates are launched into the water to clear the dry docks. I would expect that given a parallel work flow as you are building the 054A/P, you should already be building the modules by now for the next gen frigates so assembly can happen once the dry docks are cleared.

What happened to the old rumors about IEPS for the 054B? Has that been debunked? Why are we talking about conventional propulsion?

azretonov said:

I long to see a CODLAG driven platform within the PLAN

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Thats too cumbersome for a 5-6k ton frigate like the 057.
In my opinion, its much better to go directly to IEP than to opt for Codlag since the delta in difficulty of integration of these systems as compared to the existing prop systems is not that great ( reduction gear problems etc)

Higgle said:

What happened to the old rumors about IEPS for the 054B? Has that been debunked? Why are we talking about conventional propulsion?

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Similar rumours floated around some time ago for the 055. Later it turned out to be a COGAG powered platform.

Bhurki said:

Thats too cumbersome for a 5-6k ton frigate

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The Italian Bergamini is powered by CODLAG and the French Aquitaine (FREMM) employed a CODLOG solution. While it's heavier than the latter, Bergamini's weapons' package is somewhat lighter. I think at this point, it's up to the Chinese industrial readiness to provide a reliable package for a ship class, said to be mass produced.