056 class FFL/corvette

schenkus said:

I think that if China keeps building 056(A) at the current rate until they reach 60 ships, they will have a problem with their force structure in 20 years time: there will be all these ships with then old technology that might be too small to be upgraded to the needs of the time but that will be too young to be retired.
.

Click to expand...

Apart from what Bltizo has pointed out, I would like to add that a big bulk buy is usually much cheaper than a long and slow procurement due to economies of scale.

In western countries defense procurements are often deliberately prolonged in order to keep the manufacturers in business longer, as many contractors (especially shipyards) now mainly depend on military orders to survive. This is important to electoral politics as well as preserving vital know-how. It also helps to control the current FY estimates. Long-term costs are often sacrificed to gain some short-term savings, especially in times of fiscal austerity. Both are less relevant in China.

Hope this hasn't been posted. FL-3000N fired from 056?

schenkus said:

I think that if China keeps building 056(A) at the current rate until they reach 60 ships, they will have a problem with their force structure in 20 years time: there will be all these ships with then old technology that might be too small to be upgraded to the needs of the time but that will be too young to be retired.

Click to expand...

The way I see it, in 20 -25 years, China will probably sell them to emerging economies as OPVs if the ships become un-upgradable. Still a very viable economic solution and a powerful diplomatic tool. Probably will see a lot of these ships in African countries in the future or even in The Chinese Coast Guard.

Nice looking pic of 056 at a decent clip. Wonder if there are any telltale signs from the front to indicate 056 or 056A?

31th unit is about to be launched from HDZH

The 31st 056 Corvette (ASW variant) was launched at HD shipyard on Xmas day.

The cut-out at the bow suggests that it has a bow sonar?

no_name said:

The cut-out at the bow suggests that it has a bow sonar?

Click to expand...

I believe all 056 variants have a bow sonar as standard.

Bow sonar on 056 patrol variant.

The name of the recently launched 056 (the 31st in the class), has been announced as the ....'Ezhou'.