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I would expect that they would just replace the exterior yj-83 canisters with newer missles
Lethe
Captain
At this point I hope "054B" is just a placeholder name for "next-generation frigate" rather than suggesting a direct continuation of the 054 series...
Likewise. If we see a different outward shape, non-negligible displacement increase and implied different internals due to new, electric powertrain, then it'd be only logical for the ship to get a brand new designation. While I can understand secrecy and misdirection value up until the point a ship is built out in the public, once it is evident it's really a different ship the 054 designation would be just... non-elegant.
Then again, we have precedents. One of which is 039 submarine line. Two sufficiently different sub classes, a decade apart, yet they share the same basic designation.
Then again, we have precedents. One of which is 039 submarine line. Two sufficiently different sub classes, a decade apart, yet they share the same basic designation.
I mean, at this point in time do we really have any understanding for what the 05X system actually means?
We've thought it might mean propulsion, but that's always seemed dubious to me, if it's a reflection of diesels versus gas turbines (or CODOG or COGAG) then the designations of the various classes going back to the original cold war era designs won't be what they are up to now.
They're almost definitely not fundamentally based on hull design either, because otherwise why would the 051 and 051B/C be included in the same category.
Going back to 054B, for years there were some on and off discussion over whether the new frigate would be called 057 or 054B, and it seems like in the end it was decided on 054B but obviously until the ship itself emerges it won't be settled whether the 054B is the "true" next generation frigate or if an 057 is still expected.
But I wouldn't be surprised if 054B is meaningfully larger than 054A and has significant changes in structure and dimensions, and that it ends up demonstrating the 05X system is a lot more ad-hoc than we previously thought.
I think a likely case for designation system would be role/type of warship. 05X is for surface combatants with the exception of the Type 058 Minesweeper. 07X is for amphibious assault/landing ships. 09X is for nuclear submarines and 03X is for conventional submarines with the exception of the Type 037 corvette.
Sorry, that's not what I meant -- 05X is meant to encompass all of the 051, 052, 053, 054, 055, 056 designations, which is why I wrote "X".
What we do not know is what the individual 05X designations represent, whether the "X" specifically refers to a ship class based off hull, propulsion system or if it's just ad-hoc.
I don't think it will be much larger. If you creep it up to 6000 tons then you get into Type 052D territory.
Just consider what the Russians are doing with their frigates. The newer 'Admiral Amelko' will have 24x VLS surface attack plus 32x VLS air defense with up to 400 km range air-to-air missiles and quad-pack short range air-to-air missile capability. AESA radar.
The Type 054 has 8x surface attack, 8x VLS air defense with short range missiles only (15km range) with no AESA radar.
Even if the PLAN only doubles the amount of surface attack launch cells, improves the air to air missiles, adds AESA, and makes it the same displacement as the 'Admiral Gorshkov' (4500 tons) it would represent a massive increase in capabilities. Even if it only had an air to air defense system equivalent to S-350E aka Poliment-Redut it would be a vast improvement.
Just consider what the Russians are doing with their frigates. The newer 'Admiral Amelko' will have 24x VLS surface attack plus 32x VLS air defense with up to 400 km range air-to-air missiles and quad-pack short range air-to-air missile capability. AESA radar.
The Type 054 has 8x surface attack, 8x VLS air defense with short range missiles only (15km range) with no AESA radar.
Even if the PLAN only doubles the amount of surface attack launch cells, improves the air to air missiles, adds AESA, and makes it the same displacement as the 'Admiral Gorshkov' (4500 tons) it would represent a massive increase in capabilities. Even if it only had an air to air defense system equivalent to S-350E aka Poliment-Redut it would be a vast improvement.
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