F-22P and 053 series

yep, I do apologize, didn't check the picture site yesterday. Here are some of the launch photos.

Awesome. That was rather fast... at this rate we should see the third one launched mid next year.

The fourth one, of course, may take some time.

This is 527 with some good company.

new pictures of the 1st F-22P and now the first photo of the 3rd F-22P. Of course it's still far from finished, but it just makes you wonder how the F-22P are getting finished so fast and the 054A has seen no movement in months.

In my arm-chair admiral fantasy, I think the 053H3/F-22P can be evolved to a 1,800-2,000 ton Corvette concept, similar to the K130 class.

Replace existing 053H3/F-22P armaments with 1 x main gun, 2 x FL-3000N launcher, 2 x CIWS gun, 2 x 2 SSM, 2 x 3 torpedo launchers, a helicopter + hanger, then add some RL's.

But how much cheaper would such a Corvette be, compared to the 054A? In other articles the 054A was cited at 1.58 billion RMB, or roughly $210 million USD. If the F-22P's price is $150-$200 million each, then the "Corvette" version is probably not that much of a saving over the 054A.

A Jiangwei is considerably overgunned compared to most corvettes.

Just reading the other day how Pakistan is asking for emergency loans here and there. Which makes me wonder how they expect to pay for these. Its certainly not a good time for it. This opens a worst case scenario that if Pakistan can't pay for them, the ships will have to go to the PLAN.

adeptitus said:

In my arm-chair admiral fantasy, I think the 053H3/F-22P can be evolved to a 1,800-2,000 ton Corvette concept, similar to the K130 class.

Replace existing 053H3/F-22P armaments with 1 x main gun, 2 x FL-3000N launcher, 2 x CIWS gun, 2 x 2 SSM, 2 x 3 torpedo launchers, a helicopter + hanger, then add some RL's.

But how much cheaper would such a Corvette be, compared to the 054A? In other articles the 054A was cited at 1.58 billion RMB, or roughly $210 million USD. If the F-22P's price is $150-$200 million each, then the "Corvette" version is probably not that much of a saving over the 054A.

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The F-22P deal also includes ToT (although only the construction cost for 3 out of the 4), the 6 Z-9Cs and the all important export premium. So, I'd think it would be much cheaper for PLAN.

This opens a worst case scenario that if Pakistan can't pay for them, the ships will have to go to the PLAN.

Click to expand...

There's plenty of third-rate nations that China can sell off a F-22P. A lot of these nations don't even have anything larger than coastal patrol craft.

The problem is that it is a very bad time now. Poorer nations will have bigger problems and politically it just doesn't look appropriate.

Let's look at other regional navies and what they paid for their Corvettes.



Indonesia is paying $1.9 billion USD for 4 x 1,700 ton Sigma class Corvettes, at $475 million unit price. European ships are really expensive.


(Meko 100)

The Royal Malaysian Navy is looking to build 27 Kedah class OPV (1,650 tons) for RM 24 billion, which is about $245 million USD each at today's exchange rate. Although these are OPV's, there's provision for RAM launcher, Exocet SSM's, & Torpedoes at additional cost. If those weapon systems are installed (at additional cost), the ship would qualify as a Corvette.

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The Pakistanis are getting a good deal on the F-22P (Light?) Frigate at $150-$200 million each.