Corvette/Light frigate thread (056A, sub-4000t FFLs)

[no_name]

Looks like an improved version of this 1500t export concept with the vls raised even more so maybe it could take strike length payload.

So similar tonnage maybe.

Maybe a highly autonomous littoral arsenal ship.
Or a SCS express that can actually keep up with the LCS.

Would be nice if they replaced type56 one to one with the front vls configurable for anti ship or anti sub role and maybe even mine sweeping.

 

[symplectic]

I believe it's for export. If it's for PLAN, considering PLAN fleet size and China ship industry capability, we wouldn't see just one ship but dozens.

 

[para80]

Completely new designs are rarely produced in numbers straight away, including with PLAN. They usually go in pairs first, especially if more than one yard is involved. Long story short its too early to tell.

 

[Tam]

Can this thing pack antiship missiles?

No large air search and fire control radars, so U-VLS is definitely not for HHQ-9s. So it definitely is for YJ-18 or if they have managed to VLS the YJ-83. Previous Zhuhai defense shows have model and poster graphics of YJ-83 fitted in U-VLS. Note that I'm not sure if this U-VLS is the 7 or 9 meter one. The YJ-18 can only fit on the 9 meter tube, but the VLS YJ-83 can fit in both 7 and 9 meter tubes.

Another possibility is a cheaper shorter all subsonic version of the YJ-18 that can replace the YJ-83. In this case, the missile is no longer two stages, but a single cruise missile stage with no separation and second rocket stage. The missile can be made shorter and cheaper, and you can produce a land attack version of it, similar to the Kalibers.

It's also possible, following the footsteps of the Klub-Kaliber missile family, you can produce an ASW missile out of this, by adapting a torpedo as the second stage attached to the cruise missile stage. If this is the case, an ASW YJ-18 variant can replace the YU-8 that uses the AJK-16 VLS.

A smaller rotating AESA radar can provide targeting and mid range guidance for smaller SAMs which suggest to me this vessel may use shorter ranged ESSM class quad pack SAMs. I think this is the only logical air defense this corvette can have, similar to the way some Russian corvettes use the Vityaz for air defense albeit with a dedicated VLS for this missile. No way this vessel will use HHQ-9s with that small a radar, but a small radar can serve the uses of a Vityaz (9M96).

Finally, I think this vessel was created as a last minute notice. Diesel powered 054A and 056A lack the speed with their 25+ something knots to chase down US nuclear powered subs and LCS vessels. Yeah the LCS is a failure but those times the Independence class LCS were running down the South China seas, it appears the PLAN was very impressed with it as the diesel powered 054A and 056 can't keep up with them, allowing the LCS vessels to violate China claimed waters with impunity. (This may also have been the reason to bring back the 022 out of the mothballs and retired the 056 to the coast guard). I give it a high chance it may have gas turbines, and I like the chance to see if it has water jets on the back.

 

[supersnoop]

Finally, I think this vessel was created as a last minute notice. Diesel powered 054A and 056A lack the speed with their 25+ something knots to chase down US nuclear powered subs and LCS vessels. Yeah the LCS is a failure but those times the Independence class LCS were running down the South China seas, it appears the PLAN was very impressed with it as the diesel powered 054A and 056 can't keep up with them, allowing the LCS vessels to violate China claimed waters with impunity. (This may also have been the reason to bring back the 022 out of the mothballs and retired the 056 to the coast guard). I give it a high chance it may have gas turbines, and I like the chance to see if it has water jets on the back.

022 was cited by some as one of the reasons LCS became a failure...

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There was no way they could ever build enough LCS to compete with 022 building

 

[Lethe]

I believe it's for export.

There appears to be an HHQ-10 launcher mounted at the aft end of the superstructure. I don't believe that system has previously been exported. Of course, there is always a first time.

EDIT: Nevermind, Bangladesh C-13B corvettes have it (or the export equivalent, which could also plausibly be what is pictured).

 

[externallisting]

I think plenty of people are projecting too many assumptions onto a ship we know little about. Too eager to plumb the gap in our deficiency of knowledge, we start seeing people say things about this somehow being an LCS counter (lol?) start to take shape.

 

[Lethe]

I think plenty of people are projecting too many assumptions onto a ship we know little about. Too eager to plumb the gap in our deficiency of knowledge, we start seeing people say things about this somehow being an LCS counter (lol?) start to take shape.

It's possible that this is a Sino-LCS in some meaningful sense of the term (minimal manning, mission modules, very high sprint speed) but until there is clear evidence to that effect, it strikes me as a poor analogical starting point because LCS is itself so unique amongst other modern, similarly-sized vessels. It's as if one were to take Zumwalt as the generic template for a modern large surface combatant.

In any case, here's another contribution to the list of analogues for consideration: Russia's Pr. 20386 Derzky corvette. 109x13m, similar above-deck profile and proportions. Note that in this design the helicopter is actually stored below-deck.



(Serial production of Pr. 20386 was recently cancelled, though it appears the lead ship will continue fitting out and will presumably enter service at some point.)

 

[no_name]

Maybe it can fire missiles directed by third party assets. Directed by a type52d or type55

Combining the roles of both type 56 and type 22

Normally staying in port, during large conflicts they will quickly deploy to designated areas under a skeletal crew to be ready to receive fire orders.

Kind of like a diesel sub but for surface ships.

They are the fighter jets of the PLAN. The 055s are the AWACs.

 

[no_name]

During peacetime they will fulfill the roles of the 056 so not just sitting idle like the 022..