the future of the jinaghus and jiangweis

I'm looking at the Jianghu-IV (053-HT-H/#544 Siping) with the aft helicopter deck:


IMO if such refit is cost effective for old Jianghu frigates, it might be possible to turn them into multi-mission capable patrol ships. The helicopter could be used for target acquisition, ASW, anti-shipping, or search & rescue missions.

Ripping guns and missiles out and replacing it with a helicopter deck is probably not that expensive. But if we start getting into radar, fire control, weapon system upgrades, then it'd get pricy. At minimum, the ships should replace its old AAA with modern CIWS systems.

IMO we shouldn't overlook the possibility of using ship-based helicopters as an anti-ship weapon. The successor to the AGM-119 Penguin, the Kongsberg NSM, is estimated to carry a 120 kg warhead with >150 km range.

Also, another factor to consider is that some of PRC's neighbors by the sea don't have powerful navies. For an example North Korea only has 3 light frigates with Styx SSM's, Malaysia has 4 light frigates with MM40 Exocets, and Vietnam/Philippines/Burma(Myanmar) only has patrol boats. So if the PLAN needs to send patrol frigates in those areas, you don't need more than light frigates equipped with silkworm missiles to serve as effective deterrant.

The biggest force multipliers for the older PLAN ships in my opinon are advanced hull sonars, towed-array sonars, and towed torpedoe-decoys. These would turn these old junks into valuable ASW augments to the new surface combatants.

of course, the plan could extesively refit all of its old destroyers of destroyers and frigate with new ashm, sams, radar and sensors, improved engines, stealthier guns, and ram paint. but such a venture would incredibly expensive, and wasteful. im sure china would rather build new ships instead.

i agree with maddoggy. china is in lack of dedicated anti-sub assets, and these old ships provide great platforms. hers a plan:

fit a helicopter deck and hanger for two helicopeters

install a large towed sonar, and a sonar center on the ships.

fit the ship with yu-7 tubes and anti sub rockets, along wih communications equipment so it can warn other ships.

put in a hq-7A and two ak-630s for self defense.

Hi all, I know this topic has been silent for a while but recently found this little pic floating on



looks like China isn't ready to give up on the Jianweis yet but might they be thinking of upgrading as well? cause these pics were also floating...




is it feasible/econimical to put VLS on a platform such as a Jiangwei? or would China be better to do what MIGleader suggests and use future Jiangweis for ASW and stick with 052Cs and 051Cs (even 054s) for air defence? I would really like to know what you knowledgeable members think. cheers.

sadim81 said:

is it feasible/econimical to put VLS on a platform such as a Jiangwei? or would China be better to do what MIGleader suggests and use future Jiangweis for ASW and stick with 052Cs and 051Cs (even 054s) for air defence? I would really like to know what you knowledgeable members think. cheers.

Click to expand...

Jiangwei seems to be too small to have a VLS installed. The VLS would most probably be reserved or the 054A frigates when/if they comes out. However without VLS the Jiangwei will still be good multirole platform and will not be scrapped for a while. If no future chinese frigates have VLS, it might suggest that the PLAN strategy is to concentrate their main fleet air defence to VLS equiped destroyers. I guess we will just have to wait and see.

Is it just me, or does it look like the Thai frigates have stealth features? They seemed to lack any sharp or rough angles.

ALAS!!!
Beware of luda!!!
it seems china has modernized almost all of its 16 luda class destroyers with modern radars, combat systems, yj-83s, twin 37mm aaa, and hq-7s. this gives this 30 year old warship the same firepower and almost the same general abilities of 167 shenzhen!!

of course, the upgrade vary from ship to ship. some ships have been upgraded with stealthy turrets, while 105 jinan has been retrofitted with a helicopter deck and hanger. other vessels have 76mm aaa. a few units have the yu-7 tropedo for asw.

but this kind of upgrade signifigantly extends the life of the ludas, allowing to actully compete with more modern vessels in the high seas.


why cant the plan upgrade more jinghus to be like this one?(name kept confidential).

I would think PLAN probably figure that Jianghus are too small to be retrofitted? Or maybe it's not worth the cost. With the upgrade, Luda will no longer be jokes. It might have more than the purpose of a cannon fodder.

JaingWeis are definitely going to stay.
But the old JiangHus, I see no point at all at keeping them.
For the JiangHu-3 They should give the ships better AAA, radar controlled.
For the JiangHu-5s, they should install the SY-2As.
For the JiangHu-1s and 2s, scrap them near-immediately would probably be best. If they have any fighting values left, I'll think it's better to turn each of them into different types of ships, dedicated to one roles. I doubt you can turn such small ships into multi-role vessels. As we've seen, the Siping and 516 has went through such upgrades. Siping is now a ASW ship, 516 an land attack ship. After all, you aren't going to sent out a JiangHu out again, so it should be pretty much covered.

and China or NATO need to get the names better.........

The Jianghus, although old and in poor condition, can still be put to some use by the PLAN. It should be remebered that the ROC navy still operates some Modernized Gearing Hull's from the 1940s.

As for their future, the space offered by the Jianghu's is simply to limited for any type of a multirole vessal. If they were to be upgraded, they would really only be fit for a single role such as firesupppot, Asw (badly needed so might be worth considering), Anti-air (Think of it as an extension storage of missiles for destroyers), or anti-ship (they already are so don't bother). On the other hand, they could go for a complete make over and upgrade them to the Tailand type 25s.....Mk 41 vls, Yj-802.....they pack quite a punch, although It'll probrably be better do build newer destroyers. As for rescue and anti-smuggling missions, they PLAN already have way to many retired gun/missile/torpedo boats so why bother.

As for the Jiangweis, they are fine ships, modest, but fine neverless. The only thing I think they lack to compete with western ships are a better airdefence system, and better Asw. (Seems like every Plan ships needs this...) The Jiangweis certainly do not lack space for say, a HQ-7 reloader, or two type 730 CIWS. The thing is, even with the new ships, the Jiangweis's represent china's only source of short range S2A missiles....

Another thing, the Jianghu and Jiangwei are more like large corvettes by today's standard, then again, the type 52C could probrably be called a frigate......the German 124's are more capable then most destroyers....

The Lada upgrade seems....interesting. How many have been upgraded? It think is was said on CDF that only four have been upgraded.....although 16 YJ-803 and a HQ-7 does seem formidable. Heck, they are still one of the better ships in S.E.Asia.