F-22P and 053 series
- Thread starter mehdi
- Start date
Does anyone know whether 521 and 524 will be sold? Did they get the same MLU as newer 053H3s?
I could see new ESM and ECM units, so that looks like a refit.
Sure. That's why I feel it's interesting. Among the ten 053H3s, two were sold, four were refitted, and two are undergoing refitting. That leaves 521 and 524, the oldest two owned by PLAN right now, sitting there for nothing. Maybe they planned to sell them too, but with the pandemic I doubt they could easily find a buyer.
Or maybe they'll just simply remove the HHQ-7 and transfer them to the coast guard?
Coast guard ships don't have these ESMs. These are pretty obvious from the silhouette of the mast that two are added.
Coast Guard has no purpose in keeping that Type 517M radar, which I believe should now be on the standard as those used on the 052D.
You can say a 053H3 is being prepared for export if they removed this antenna and radar back end --- probably considered high level national secrets --- and replace it with the export version of the Type 517 which is like what is fitted on the Pakistani ships such as F22P and the 054A/P. The export version uses a different frequency --- you can tell that the elements are now closer together --- and has more elements on the array.
So far the 053H3 above its keeping its array, so good chance its not for export or coast guard use and it will be retained for PLAN.
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