056 class FFL/corvette

Bltizo said:

I wish we knew the exact cost of each 056, along with the actual build quality, any potential weaknesses and delays that the programme might have experienced in its cycle up to now, just so we can compare with other similar projects in other navies.

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We could compare the price of Pattani class OPV, which is reported @ ~$50 million each, excluding sensors and weapons.

Also, I think Nigeria ordered P18N OPV from China for $42 million. The news articles claim that it's for 2 OPV's, but I suspect the $42 million price tag is for the first ship.

chuck731 said:

They are only corvettes, the seem to be more like extremely large missile boats for open water rather than compact frigates.

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What would be your distinction between the two?

chuck731 said:

They are only corvettes, the seem to be more like extremely large missile boats for open water rather than compact frigates.

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That's exactly what they are. That's where they serve in PLAN. They are not expected to make it out of first chain.

chuck731 said:

They are only corvettes, the seem to be more like extremely large missile boats for open water rather than compact frigates.

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... Point being?
8-10 multirole, modern decently-armed-for-their-size corvettes commissioned in a year is still impressive

Bltizo said:

... Point being?
8-10 multirole, modern decently-armed-for-their-size corvettes commissioned in a year is still impressive

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Not really. 10 of these probably represent less cost and economic commitment than a single 052D.

chuck731 said:

Not really. 10 of these probably represent less cost and economic commitment than a single 052D.

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Which is what makes the programme such a successful and arguably sensible procurement on behalf of the PLAN, leading to an eyebrow raise of just how well production has been executed

056 isn't a massive technological achievement per se, given it uses mostly proven subsystems on a small, relatively simple hull. Nor does each ship take a big bite out of the PLAN's annual budget.
It is this very rapid production and induction of modern combatants well tailored to the PLAN's needs, seemingly managed well, with good standardisation, and at low cost, which makes it impressive. And the boost in capability compared to the ships they are replacing, is also going to add up.

I don't think there has been such a rapid commissioning of ships this size in any navy in the last few years.

Bltizo said:

Which is what makes the programme such a successful and arguably sensible procurement on behalf of the PLAN, leading to an eyebrow raise of just how well production has been executed

056 isn't a massive technological achievement per se, given it uses mostly proven subsystems on a small, relatively simple hull. Nor does each ship take a big bite out of the PLAN's annual budget.

It is this very rapid production and induction of modern combatants well tailored to the PLAN's needs, seemingly managed well, with good standardisation, and at low cost, which makes it impressive. And the boost in capability compared to the ships they are replacing, is also going to add up.

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And, when you take the whole picture...what the PLAN is doing with the Type 054A, what they have done with the Type 052C and now the Type 052D, it is clear that a very sizable and rapid upgrade of the PLAN's capabilities across the board is occurring and in a rapid fashion.

Now...they still have a lot of new hulls around and have to get them outfitted and manned. There's clearly a bottle neck and backlog building up. I wonder how their recruiting is going versus high tech jobs for the younger people? That would be an interesting study.

Jeff Head said:

Now...they still have a lot of new hulls around and have to get them outfitted and manned. There's clearly a bottle neck and backlog building up. I wonder how their recruiting is going versus high tech jobs for the younger people? That would be an interesting study.

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Easy. Military career offer stability and government sector previlege. White collar job is nice but once economic downturn creeps in or company downsize. You need to worry about your livelihood.

Jeff Head said:

And, when you take the whole picture...what the PLAN is doing with the Type 054A, what they have done with the Type 052C and now the Type 052D, it is clear that a very sizable and rapid upgrade of the PLAN's capabilities across the board is occurring and in a rapid fashion.

Now...they still have a lot of new hulls around and have to get them outfitted and manned. There's clearly a bottle neck and backlog building up. I wonder how their recruiting is going versus high tech jobs for the younger people? That would be an interesting study.

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It seems like they are manning their 054As relatively consistently, if commissioning rates are anything to go by.

With regards to 052C and future 052D, I think they may simply be larger and more complex for crews to grasp, combined with some production teething issues that may have occurred, that resulted in the current "backlog" that are hanging around JNCX.
It'll be a few years until PLAN gets a consistent, more even induction pace going. Also, JNCX are launching their destroyers without much equipment fitted on, meaning extra time sitting at the yard post launch.


I'm not sure what PLAN recruitment is like, but they're certainly moving up the proverbial knowledge ladder if recent reports are anything to go by.

With regards to recruitment, I think the PLAN has started to grasp the value of the 'wow' factor, which may explain the relative openness of the Liaoning programme, and that in turn has been a massive PR success for the PLAN judging by the online reaction. Its kinda like China's version of the Top Gun effect.

The job market in China is pretty tough at present, and likely to get more so because of the over-investment in university places over recent years coupled with the global slowdown. So the PLAN may become a viable and even desirable career path for many highly educated young Chinese compared with unemployment or even a manual factory job.