FFG 054/054A Thread

[planeman]

That VLS confuses the hell outta me. Going by the FCR I was sure it was going to be a VLS version of the Shtil, but the VLS hatches simply don't match, not anywhere near in fact. For a start there are only 16 hatches implying only 16 missiles.

We can safely guess that they aren't SSMs because there is a clear SSM set-up amidships behind the bridge (identical to the Type-054's suggesting YJ-83 rather than YJ-62)?

Then again they could be Klub? Either ASW or land attack? Or LACMs of Chinese origin.

Shtil VLS: http://www.sinodefenceforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=727&d=1161525563

Artist's impression of PL-12 VLS: http://www.sinodefenceforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=751&d=1162540333

Klub VLS:

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These VLS hatches are about 0.75m across. The hinges are on the outside so probably they are wider than long, but the missile inside can't have a launch diameter of more than about 0.7m which is not a big deal since that includes most anti-ship missiles (Harpoon etc) - it's very large.


The PL-12 has a wingspan of just under 0.7m so it could be that each hatch has a single PL-12 derived missile under it, but it's hardly a compact arrangement.

The HQ-7 has a wingspan of only 0.55m:

Frankly if it's a typically Chinese non-compact arrangement with 16 HQ-7s then that'll be a huge disapointment, though hardly a surprise.

 

[tphuang]

That VLS confuses the hell outta me. Going by the FCR I was sure it was going to be a VLS version of the Shtil, but the VLS hatches simply don't match, not anywhere near in fact. For a start there are only 16 hatches implying only 16 missiles.

We can safely guess that they aren't SSMs because there is a clear SSM set-up amidships behind the bridge (identical to the Type-054's suggesting YJ-83 rather than YJ-62)?

Then again they could be Klub? Either ASW or land attack? Or LACMs of Chinese origin.

Shtil VLS: http://www.sinodefenceforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=727&d=1161525563

Artist's impression of PL-12 VLS: http://www.sinodefenceforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=751&d=1162540333

Klub VLS:

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hmm, MK-41 only has one hatch. I'm pretty sure it holds more missiles than 1 per complex. I don't see why PLAN would put only one HH-16 in a HH-9 sized launcher. 4 ESSM or 1 SM-2. 2 is the minimum at this point in my opinion.

 

[Scratch]

Pic one in post #368: Is there already a helicopter on the aft of the ship, or is it just a mockup for evaluation?

Anyhow, I was talking about this sensor

A simple satalite uplink?

Are the controll-surfaces of HHQ-16s / PL-12s foldable when fitted into a launchtube?
Putting two missiles in a cylinder shaped tube is a waste of space, I would say 3 per tube is a good number.

 

[eecsmaster]

I think there are 32 missiles. You only see 2X8 because the launch complex is angled. We can further deduct that the missiles are cold launched.

 

[su-27]

In my opinion the launchers could be capable of have a singol LACM per launcher or a number of sam. Not impossible either new ASW missiles based on CY-1.

If the launchers are able to carry not only sam but other kinds of missiles, the 054a could have the same role of the FREMM design

 

[Gollevainen]

Now this what we all been waiting for....:china: :china: :nana:

There's clearly 16 VLS silos. Thats a fact. It reminds somewhat similar to the Rif launchers in Kirov class cruisers, but the hathces are too close together that there could be a rotary launcher bellow them. So there is 90% 16 missiles onboard. What are those missiles? Well only thing is 100 % certain and that is that they are SAMs. No ship of this class (not even chinese ships any longer) goes to sea without SAM cover.

Then what SAM system is onboard? My quess is HHQ-16 which is chinese derivation (wheter just chinese VLS for Shtill or completely chinese missile, that I don't know) from the SA-N-12 missile. All the factors speak behalf of it. The missile guidance radar set is derivation of the Fregat/Orekh suite. Basicly if you have a football field, you most likely are going to play football in it, not basket ball...

I think there are 32 missiles. You only see 2X8 because the launch complex is angled. We can further deduct that the missiles are cold launched.

???? It's not angled, at least not that much that it would hide another set of 2x8 VLS...

If the launchers are able to carry not only sam but other kinds of missiles, the 054a could have the same role of the FREMM design

If there is only 16 missilesilos, then there will only be SAMs onboard those VLS. 16 is about the minium of SAMs that is fitted in modern warships today and any number less than that (and itself seems too low to me) is a serious default.

Anyhow, I was talking about this sensor

It's the Type 347G, chinese copy of the Italian DARDO CIWS system. It's normally associated to the Type 76A and it's also intergrated to the tpye 730 CIWS system. Apparently its been set to controll the 76 mm maingun. In the 054 there where the type 344 gun control...

 

[eecsmaster]

look carefully at the base of the missile complex; it's not married to the centerline, which means there is a very high probability that there is another half containing 2X8 missiles.

 

[sumdud]

I would disagree with Golly here.
16 is awfully low, too low.
And China hasn't test with hot-launched VLS missiles yet. (At least as I remember) So this missile is most likely going to be cold-launched, meaning it will be angled, and since all of what we see here faces us, there must be another set on the other side. Maybe hidden just enough.

Rotary launcher? It's in a square.....

I doubt China has the technology to hold mutliple missiles into 1 VLS. China has barely any VLS. While China has foldable wings, I doubt foldable wings would well w/ SAMs.

 

[guitarjeff]

look carefully at the base of the missile complex; it's not married to the centerline, which means there is a very high probability that there is another half containing 2X8 missiles.

I agree. According to the pics from post 367, it appears that there is a "chunk" missing on the port side--the VLS system is still incomplete at this time. We should check back in a couple of weeks and see if additional 8-cell units are installed.

 

[adeptitus]

We'll prolly get a confirmation on the total # of SAMs soon (16 or 32).

Along with the HQ-9 this is part of PLAN's first-generation VLS SAM system. Kind of like RN's VLS Sea Wolf. At this time I doubt they're multi-use like Russian Club VLS system or American Mk.41 VLS. They're most likely dedicated SAM TLC's carrying a single missile each and not multi-packed.

Look at it this way, this is a big improvement over the old HQ-7 system. =p

If they could go back and retrofit the 054, replacing the HQ-7 and using the elevated platform for 16-cel VLS, it'd be an improvement over the existing HQ-7 SAM system.