Thanks a lot just what I needed. Also I guess your definition of purported/expected is very narrow right? Because it is quite unlikely for China to build just 2 054B frigates. What do you define and mean by purported/expected in this case?
"Visually confirmed" hereby means we can already see them existing with our own eyes, either from satellite imageries or photos taken by curious passer-bys/military fans.
"Purported" hereby means information that has been claimed/alleged/mentioned by someone else, of which the information is unable to be verified at the moment.
"Expected" hereby means expectation that we (inside or outside the forum) or myself is looking forward to, of which the expectation deduced is based on presently-available information and referring to past trends.
For the case of 054B FFGs - Given the lack of any clear indications that there are more than 2 054B FFGs that are being/would be built he PLAN at present, I can only present the following two possibilities:
1. The PLAN decides to
procure only 2 units for the 1st batch of the 054B-class FFG (i.e. there will be subsequent batches within the same class). This would be similar to any other classes of PLAN warships that has more than one batch; or
2. The PLAN decides to
only procure 2 units for the 054B-class FFG (i.e. there will be no subsequent units for the class). This would be similar to the two one-off 054s that precede the serial-produced 054A/AGs, i.e. there will be a brand-new (nominally-named) 054C-class or 05X-class of FFGs meant for serial-production.
