Limited helicopter fleet size (which is limited by industry), choice to use the displacement for other purposes.
Everything is a trade-off. You'll be giving up something else to add another helicopter hangar.
054B/new generation frigate
- Thread starter Blitzo
- Start date
Limited helicopter fleet size (which is limited by industry), choice to use the displacement for other purposes.
Everything is a trade-off. You'll be giving up something else to add another helicopter hangar.
The 052D(L) itself is quite new and is in full production.
The likelihood that 054b will be a light destroyer under the disguise of a frigate IMHO is nil.
Hangers on the destroyers have enough space for two. The main reason why you bother with a spine or raised opening and roof in the hanger is only for fitting the Ka-28. I think you can stick two Z-9s if you want, but you can only use one Ka-28. You also have the option of leaving one helo open in the deck while keeping an extra in the hanger.
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kwaigonegin
Colonel
I'm guessing it has more to do with their overall strategic goals. PLAN in the foreseeable future still intends to operate mostly inside the 2nd island chain with occasional excursions and operations into Indian Ocean and Persian Gulf region.
As such most of thier intended operational goals do not necessitate a dual helo solution.
Airborne ASW can also be run from the bigger reef Islands once they are certified to run Y8s or future improved versions of the Y8Qs.
antiterror13
Brigadier
Replacing 054A or as a compliment with different missions ?
Slight offtop: it's mildly funny to look at how US Congress acts not unlike an internet forum - doing everything in their power to make a 052D-ish second-rank destroyer out of a frigate.
Mandating cruise missiles, ultra-long range SAM capability (when there is not enough missiles in stocks anyways), repeatedly asking for more cells right on the brink of first units L/Ds ...at the expense of any chances to actually start making them in time and in numbers.
The point of a frigate is being a frigate; excessive ersatz destroyer capability comes at the expense of what it shall be doing - at the expense of money that should be spent on battle units.
Precisely because of that it's so interesting to watch 054B development, because the military fan community acts in the exact same way (and did throughout the whole history).
The question is, how resilient is PLAN to this pressure?
Mandating cruise missiles, ultra-long range SAM capability (when there is not enough missiles in stocks anyways), repeatedly asking for more cells right on the brink of first units L/Ds ...at the expense of any chances to actually start making them in time and in numbers.
The point of a frigate is being a frigate; excessive ersatz destroyer capability comes at the expense of what it shall be doing - at the expense of money that should be spent on battle units.
Precisely because of that it's so interesting to watch 054B development, because the military fan community acts in the exact same way (and did throughout the whole history).
The question is, how resilient is PLAN to this pressure?
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Congress people don't have any military understanding only knows they need the biggest stick they can get. Over specification a frigate would only result the same debacle they have right now: having to use more capable than needed thus also very expensive and not numerous enough ships for mundane everyday missions.
plawolf
Lieutenant General
Also to do with fleet composition.
USN Burkes need dual hangers because they are expected to operate independently, while PLAN major surface combatants rarely operation solo outside of peacetime routine patrol duties close to home waters. There is less need for a second helo on your DDGs when you can sent a FFG as a buddy when needed.
One of the main reasons for the 054B is to be able to better keep up with DDGs and carriers for long range missions/patrols.
The 054As will remain closer to home waters as a second line patrol and defence asset used largely for convoy close protection and low threat environment patrols while the 054Bs, DDGs and carries form the long range expeditionary fleet elements.
While having dual hangers is indeed better than single helo hangers, it’s largely a good-to-have feature for PLAN ships rather than must-have as is the case for most other navies.
This:
Apparently, the present wishlish by the USN is as follows:
3x Arleigh Burke DDGs per year
4x Constellation FFGs per year
3x Virginia SSNs per year
1x Columbia SSBNs per year
Well, that's gonna take a good while to realise, if ever.
Coupled with this:
Apparently, the present wishlish by the USN is as follows:
3x Arleigh Burke DDGs per year
4x Constellation FFGs per year
3x Virginia SSNs per year
1x Columbia SSBNs per year
Well, that's gonna take a good while to realise, if ever.