Type 054B

The upgraded capabilities of the Type 054A reflect its expanded mission sets and enhance the
ability of the ship to defend itself against a range of threats that it might encounter in both the
regional seas and missions abroad, to include potential conflicts with regional navies as well as
pirates in distant waters. Given the Type 054A’s success to date and the strong likelihood that the
PLAN will seek improved follow on variants, it is important to analyze the research, development,
and procurement process that the PLAN used to bring the Type 054A into the
fleet. Source chinasignpost.com

Type 054A design and features

The stealthy hull design of the Type 054A features sloped sides and reduced superstructure for
minimising the radar cross section. Designed primarily for anti-air warfare, the frigates are also
equipped to conduct anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare missions.
The Type 054A has a length of 134m and abeam of 16m. The standard displacement is 3,600t,
while the full displacement is around 4,000t. Each vessel can complement a crew of 165.

–The lack of reporting to date in Chinese or foreign sources regarding engine failures or other major
mechanical problems suggests that the Type 054A has recorded decent operational reliability in the
six and a half years (and counting) that the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) has maintained
its Gulf of Aden anti-piracy mission.

–While the Type 054A represents an exponential improvement in the quality and capability of the
PLAN’s frigate force, it nonetheless remains a distinctly limited design, certainly in terms of its size
and armament but most especially in terms of its electronics outfit. The Chinese appear to recognize
this fact and view the 054A as an intermediary design intended to play a specific, limited role in fleet
defense.
–Notwithstanding its physical shortcomings, the Type 054A has performed well handling lower
intensity long-range mission In this regard, it has arguably surpassed the capabilities of the French
Lafayette-class frigate that influenced its original design. Source chinasignpost.com

Type 054A missiles

The Type 054A is armed with HQ-16 medium-range surface-air missiles fired from 32-cell
Vertical Launch System (VLS) developed by Luoyang Electro-Optics Technology Development
Centre (EOTDC). The HQ-16 missile can engage aerial targets from all angles up to a range of
50km. The VLS is also expected to launch anti-submarine missile.

HQ-16 medium-range surface-air missile

The HongQi-16 (HQ-16) is a third generation Chinese land-based mid-range surface-to-air missile
defense system. It is similar to Russia’s SA-11 Gadfly or SA-17 Grizzly, and seems to be an
evolved, Chinese version of those system.  Not much else is known about this new system, but there
are reports stating that it can intercept very low-flying targets at maximum distance of 40km.  The
HQ-16 is said to be more accurate than previous mid-range defense systems and fills in the
performance gaps of the HQ-7 and HQ-9.

HQ-16 Anti Air Missile – Image: chinesemilitaryreview.blogspot.com

Type 054A Jiangkai-II class frigate of the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLA Navy) test fires HQ-16 surface
to air  missile during an exercise.Type 054A frigate is equipped a 32-cell vertical launching system (VLS)
which allows the HQ-16 to be launched at rapid rate. – Image:
  chinesemilitaryreview.blogspot.com

Video capture of an HHQ-16 launch intercepting what appears to be a low altitude target drone –
Image: plarealtalk.com

Chinese news websites report that the HQ-16’s performance data is roughly:

 Effective range of 1.5-30 km

 Effective Altitude of 10-6000 meters
 Single hit probability of 0.7-0.98
 Reaction time 5-8 seconds
 9 m long missile
 Projectile diameter 0.232 m
 Weighs 165 kg
 Warhead weight of 17 kg
 Maximum flight speed of Mach 2.8.

Data missilethreat.com

CY-5 (Chiang Ying, Long Tassel) ASROC-type missile

A PLAN naval drill in July saw the likely first images of an ASROC-type torpedo-carrying missile, fired from
the vertical launch system of a Type 054A ‘Jiangkai II’-class frigate. The official designator of this missile is
uncertain, although some sources suggest nomenclature of CY-5 (Chiang Ying , Long Tassel). Source:

Screengrab from CCTV @janes.com

Image: plarealtalk.com

CY-5 is the vertically launched version of CY-4 with folding control surfaces to fit into VLS. The
range is reported to be 30 km. The existence of CY-5 type weapon was first officially revealed in
2012 when Type 054A frigate was opened to public in Hong Kong, when the governmental
explanation described the modular VLS at the bow of the ship can launch both air defense missiles
and rocket propelled ASW torpedoes armed with various Chinese and western torpedoes. However,
the exact designation of the rocket propelled ASW torpedo was not revealed. Because CY series
was also first intended for export and armed with torpedoes of western origin, CY-5 is thus also most
likely armed with Chinese Y-7, or other western light torpedoes such as A244-S. CY-5 is reportedly
also deployed onboard Type 052D destroyer. Source wikipedia.org

Yu-8 anti-submarine missile launched from VLS of 054A

Xiangtan
Yu-8 torpedo is a rocket propelled ASW torpedo similar to CY-5, but with a different payload. The
exact type of the light weight torpedo (LWT) carried by Yu-8 has not been officially released by the
Chinese governmental sources (as of 2016), but many military analysts and enthusiasts have
concluded it is the Russian APR-3E torpedo based on other information released officially by the
Chinese government in 2015, namely, the incorporation of data link on Yu-8:[8][9]

The Russian torpedo is approximately a meter, or a third longer than its western counterparts, such
as A244-S, Sting Ray, or Mk 54, and is also nearly twice the weight of its western counterparts, but
more importantly, the range of Russian APR-3E LWT is only a third of that its western counterparts.
If a very fast nuclear submarine is targeted by Yu-8 near its maximum range, then from the time Yu-
8 is launched to its point of entry, the target might have already opened up the gap and thus has
successfully escaped by getting out of the range of APR-3E. Just as in the case of CY-3
development from CY-2, to ensure the point of entry of Yu-8 is within the 3 km range of APR-3E, a
datalink is also incorporated to enable the weapon to receive target update from other platforms
such as surface ships and aircraft.[8][9] This feature is not a must for western LWT torpedoes with a
range that is approximately three times of that of Russian LWT, and hence when the Chinese official
sources have revealed the existence of datalink on Yu-8, it suggests the LWT Yu-8 delivers is
Russian APR-3E or similar Chinese copies. Many military analysts and enthusiasts have also
postulated that since the Russian LWT is larger and heavier, to maintain the same range of CY-5
armed with lighter and shorter torpedoes of western origin, the rocket motor of Yu-8 would have to
be either larger or more powerful.

The existence of Yu-8 designation was first revealed in March 2014, [10] and confirmed more than a
year later by CCTV-7 in August 2015, when it aired a footage of Chinese naval war game that
contained the launch of rocket propelled ASW torpedo from VLS of a Chinese warship, with
designation Yu-8 torpedo assigned. [5] Yu-8 is designed by the 705th Research Institute in Kunming,
with program begun in 2002 and completed in 2006. Source wikiwand.com

The primary Anti-Surface Warfare (ASuW) system of the Type 054A is the YJ-83 (C-803) sea-
skimming anti-ship cruise missile. The missile is launched by two quadruple launchers mounted
at the mid-ship position. The YJ-83 missile can carry a 165kg conventional warhead to an
operational range of 250km.

YJ-83 (C-803) sea-skimming anti-ship cruise missile

The YJ-83 (YingJi-83 meaning Eagle Strike) was designed by the Third Academy of the China
Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation “CASIC” (HiWING Mechanical & Electrical Technology
Corporation). The programme begun in the mid nineties and procurement with the PLAN begun in
the late nineties. YJ-83 is a subsonic missile with a reported range of 150 Km (in its surface-
launched version). It is a sea skeaming capable missile fitted with an active radar
seeker. Source navyrecognition.com

Yuncheng(571) – Image: navalanalyses.blogspot.com

The YJ-83 is a long-range anti-ship missile designed to meet the requirements of the PLA Navy
(PLAN). The YJ-83 has a range of 150 to 200 kilometers and introduces a data-link to receive target
updates from airborne assets such as helicopters or fixed-wing aircraft. The YJ-83 can fly at
supersonic speeds (Mach 1.5) during the terminal phase of the flight (approx 15 kilometers). The
PLAN is deploying the YJ-83 missile as the standard anti-ship missile onboard frigates and
destroyers.
Dimensions

Diameter: 0.36 meter

Length: 6.39 meter (21.0 foot)

Wingspan: 1.22 meter

Performance

Max Range: 200 kilometer (108 nautical mile)

Speed

Cruise Speed: 0.90 mach (1,076 kph)

Top Speed: 1.50 mach (1,793 kph)

Weight

Warhead: 165 kilogram (364 pound)

Source deagel.com

临沂/Linyi (547)  YJ-83 (C-803) sea-skimming anti-ship cruise missile

New “missile” ASW

 Image: sinodefenceforum.com

Image: sin
odefenceforum.com

Naval gun systems and ASW weapons

The main gun fitted on the bow deck is a single-barrel 76mm gun. The frigate is armed with two
indigenous Type 730 seven-barrel 30mm close-in weapon systems (CIWS) for close-point
defence against aerial threats. The CIWS can fire 4,600 to 5,800 rounds per minute for a maximum
range of 3,000m.
1 × PJ26 76 mm dual purpose gun

The 713th Institute (also known as Zhengzhou Electrical Engineering Research Institute) of China
Shipbuilding Industry Corporation (CSIC) of the People’s Republic of China has developed a
Chinese variant of AK-176, with Mr. Chen Dingfeng (陈汀峰) as the general designer. Design begun
in 2000 and was completed in 2003. The primary difference between this H/PJ-26 and AK-176 is
that the Chinese variant adopts a stealthy turret design, and more composite material is used in the
construction of the turret. In addition, ready rounds for the H/PJ-26 are doubled to 150 rounds from
the original 75 of the AK-176. Source wikiwand.com

PJ26 single tube 76MM stealth gun

PJ26 single tube 76MM gun stealth based AK176 single tube 76.2 mm gun stealth modifications on
the Russian ship. In early 2000 determined by the Zhengzhou Institute of Mechanical and Electrical
Engineering (713) as chief engineer units, and thus responsible for the development, general
contracting, Chen Ting Feng served as the chief architect and was completed in 2003.

Performance parameters (Russia AK176 type):

total weight: 11500kg (including the lower deck loader)
Range: 11.5 ~ 15.5km
Rate of fire: 60 to 120 rounds / min
reserve ammunition: 152 Hair
barrel tilt range: -15 to +85 degree
level cyclotron range: about 175 degrees

Source haijun360.com

Type 730 seven-barrel (PJ-12) 30mm close-in weapon systems (CIWS)

 Type 730 CIWS Yuncheng (571)  – Image: navalanalyses.blogspot.com

The Type 730 is a Chinese-made close-in weapon system (CIWS) based on a seven-barrel 30mm
gun with a maximum rate of fire of approximately 4,600 to 5,800 rounds per minute. This CIWS
weapon system provides short-range air defense to the latest ships commissioned by the People’s
Liberation Army Navy (PLAN). Source deagel.com

18th 054A onwards the seven barrel PJ-12 was

replaced by the PJ-11 (H/PJ-14)

Left: seven barrel PJ-12 30mm CIWS installed on 054A hulls 1-17, Right: eleven barrel PJ-11 30mm CIWS
installed on 054A hulls 18 and onwards – Source plarealtalk.com

A pair of PJ-12 (also known as Type 730) close in weapon systems (CIWS) provide a robust last
ditch anti air, anti missile and anti surface capability. The PJ-12 is a 7 barrel, 30mm calibre gatling
gun featuring its own fire control radar and electro-optic targeting system. PJ-12 is similar in
arrangement to the Dutch Goalkeeper CIWS, but is reportedly actually influenced by the aborted
French SAMOS CIWS. The seven barrel PJ-12 equips 054A hulls 1 to 17, from the 18th 054A
onwards, the seven barrel PJ-12 was replaced by the more formidable PJ-11, an eleven barrel
variant of the PJ-12 that had previously only been fitted aboard the aircraft carrier
Liaoning. Source plarealtalk.com

Properties: Capable vs Seaskimmer

Targets: Aircraft, Helicopter, Missile, Surface Vessel

WEAPONS:

30mm China H/PJ-14 [Type 1130, 500 rnds] – (China, 11 Barrels, Upgr Goalkeeper Copy) Gun

Air Max: 1.9 km. Surface Max: 2.8 km.

Source cmano-db.com

The anti-submarine warfare (ASW) capabilities are provided by two Type 87 six-tube ASW rocket
launchers and tow 324mm YU-7 ASW torpedo launchers. Each rocket has a 34kg warhead and
can strike under-water targets within the range of 1,200m.

2 x Type 87 six-tube ASW rocket launcher

Type 87 six-tube ASW rocket launcher Yuncheng (571)  – Image: navalanalyses.blogspot.com

There are two Type 87 six-tube anti-submarine rocket launchers installed on the bow deck, with 36
rockets (240mm calibre, 34kg warhead). The maximum range is
1,200m. Source defensetiger.blogspot.com

Targets: Submarine

WEAPONS:

China Type 87 ASW Rocket Salvo [6 rnds] – Rocket

Subsurface Max: 3.7 km.

Source cmano-db.com

2 324mm YU-7 ASW torpedo launchers

Type-054A Frigate Anti-submarine Exercises – Image: errymath.blogspot.com

YU-7 ASW torpedo

The Yu-7 is a lightweight torpedo of Chinese origin. Since 1984 China tried to copy and later
produce under license the US Mk 46 torpedo. This proved to be difficult and a batch of Italian
A.224S torpedoes was ordered and the two designs were mated. An electrically powered Yu-7
offspring called the ET-52 was developed and put into service before the development of the Yu-7
was finished.

Type-054A Frigate Anti-submarine Exercises – Image: errymath.blogspot.com

The Yu-7 is a mixture of the Mk 46 Mod 1 and Mod 2 with various components from the A.224S
torpedo. The Yu-7 retains the complex Otto fuel engine which provides it with a better performance
than the electrically powered ET-52. The layout is conventional with the seeker in the nose, the
warhead in the middle and the fuel and engine at the rear.

The Yu-7 uses a combination of passive and active acoustic guidance. It is believed that the Mk 46
seeker design is retained but several components have been replaced by those from the A.224S.

Type Anti-submarine torpedo

Platform Aircraft, surface ships

Diameter 324 mm

Length 2.6 m

Weight 235 kg

Warhead 45 kg

Guidance Active/passive acoustic seeker

Propulsion Twin propeller

Power supply Otto Fuel II

Speed 43 kt

Range 10 km

Depth 6 to 400 m depth

Source weaponsystems.net

Variable depth sonar from hull 18 onwards

The 054A class also fields a comprehensive undersea sensor suite for ASW roles. All 054As are
equipped with a bow sonar and a towed array sonar as well as a towed torpedo decoy system, and
from all ships from hull 18 onwards have also been equipped with an additional variable depth sonar,
appearing to be the same type mounted on the 056A class corvette. Such a comprehensive sonar
suite, combined with a hangar and helipad for a helicopter, makes the 054A a very viable and
competent ASW surface combatant within the Chinese Navy’s order of
battle. Source plarealtalk.com

GENERAL DATA:

Type: VDS, Active/Passive Sonar Altitude Max: 0 m

Range Max: 14.8 km Altitude Min: 0 m

Range Min: 0 km Generation: Early 1970s

SENSORS / EW:

China SJD-X [Unknown VDS] – (Type 054++, Type 056 ASW) VDS, Active/Passive Sonar

Role: VDS, Active/Passive Variable Depth Sonar

Max Range: 14.8 km

Source cmano-db.com

Type 054A Towed Torpedo Decoy

Photography of a Type 054A frigate with a streamed tow cable has recently been seen on Chinese
websites. The accompanying discussions on the blog sites state this is evidence of a towed
array. Source admiraltytrilogy.com
Flight deck

Kamov Ka-28 Helix on Type-054A Frigate Anti-submarine Exercises – Image: errymath.blogspot.com

The stern helicopter deck features a single landing spot for supporting the missions of a medium
size helicopter. The heli-deck is fitted with helicopter handling system and can accommodate
a Kamov Ka-28 Helix or a Harbin Z-9C helicopter.

Harbin Z-9C helicopter

Chinese Type 054A Jiangkai II class FFG-546 Yancheng Guided Missile Frigate on patrol in Mediterranean
Sea. Image: Chinese Military Review

Z-9C: Version for PLA Naval Air Force, for deployment aboard certain classes of destroyers and
frigates; in service by late 2000. Believed to be equivalent to Arriel 2-engined Eurocopter AS 565
Panther, but equipped with Thales HS-12 dipping sonar and KLC-11/J-band (Chinese version of
Agrion 15) surface search radar; armament includes two Yu-7 torpedoes or TV-guided C-701 anti-
surface vessel missiles. Source aviastar.org

Specifications (Z-9B)
Data from

General characteristics

 Crew: 1 or 2 pilots
 Capacity: 10 passengers or 1,900 kg (4,189 lb) payload internal, 1,600 kg (3,527 lb) payload
slung
 Length: 12.11 m (39 ft 9 in)
 Height: 4.01 m (13 ft 2 in)
 Empty weight: 2,050 kg (4,519 lb)
 Max takeoff weight: 4,100 kg (9,039 lb)
 Powerplant: 2 × Zhuzhou Aeroengine Factory WZ-8A turboshaft, 632 kW (848 hp) each
 Main rotor diameter: 11.94 m (39 ft 2 in)
 Main rotor area: 111.98 m2 (1,205.3 sq ft) swept area

Performance

 Maximum speed: 305 km/h (190 mph; 165 kn)

  Cruising speed: 260 km/h (162 mph; 140 kn)
 Ferry range: 1,000 km (621 mi; 540 nmi) with internal auxiliary tank
 Endurance: 5 hours
 Service ceiling: 4,500 m (14,764 ft) * Hovering Ceiling in ground effect: 2,600 m
(8,530 ft)
 Hovering Ceiling out of ground effect: 1,600 m (5,249 ft)

Armament

2 fixed 23 mm Type 23-2 (AM-23) cannon on attack variants. Pylons for rockets, gun pods, ET52
torpedo, HJ-8 anti-tank missiles, or TY-90 air-to-air missiles.

Technical data wikiwand.com

Sensors and radars aboard the Type

054A frigate
The Type 054Afrigate is equipped with Type 382 3D air/surface search radar, MR-36A surface
search radar, and two Racal RM-1290 navigation radars operating in I-band. The 3D search
radar can simultaneously track up to 40 targets within the maximum range of 120km.

Image: errymath.blogspot.com

Type 382 3D air/surface search radar

 Yuncheng (571) Type 382 3D air/surface search radar – Image: navalanalyses.blogspot.com

Type 382 radar is a Chinese naval 3-D air search radar designed to replace earlier Chinese Type
381.

Contrary to many frequent but erroneous claim, Type 382 radar is not a simple Chinese copy of
Russian MR-710 Fregat (meaning frigatebird) radar (NATO reporting name: Top Plate), though Type
382 does borrow heavily from MR-710 radar. Type 382 radar program had already begun in the
early 1990s, before the start of the negotiation of importing Russian Sovremennyy-class destroyer in
1994. Type 382 is designed to be a successor of earlier Type 381, but development had run into
technological bottleneck for the next generation passive phased array radar due to the technical and
industrial limitations in the early and mid-1990s China had at the time. The import of Russian MR-
710 radar had provided a significant boost in the development of Type 382 radar in that designers of
Type 382 can borrow ideas of MR-710, and as a result, Type 382 has become a cross between
Type 381 and MR-710. L Source wikiwand.com
 Image: errymath.blogspot.com

The Type 344 (Mineral-ME Band Stand) radar above the bridge provides ship-ship missile control,
over-the-horizon radar acquisition and target designation of surface vessels, while four Type 345
(NATO reporting name: MR-90 Front Dome) F-band radars provide two channels to guide two air
defence missiles simultaneously.

A photo of 054A’s darkened CIC during typical operations – Source plarealtalk.com

Type 344 (Mineral-ME Band Stand) radar

Type 344 (Mineral-ME Band Stand) radar / koxinga_k

Mineral system (‘Band Stand’) is used for missile guidance, MR331 Mineral ME ( Russian export
version Monolit or Band Stand in Western code) is a team able to locate targets beyond the radar
horizon. Which is essential guide surface-to-surface missiles.
Type 345 (NATO reporting name: MR-90 Front Dome)
 Yuncheng (571) Type 345 (NATO reporting name: MR-90 Front Dome) at bottom of pic –
Image: navalanalyses.blogspot.com

Yuncheng (571) Type 345 (NATO reporting name: MR-90 Front Dome) on top of hanger –
Image: navalanalyses.blogspot.com

GENERAL DATA:

Type: Radar Altitude Max: 30480 m

Range Max: 74.1 km Altitude Min: 0 m

GENERAL DATA:

Range Min: 0.4 km Generation: Early 1980s

Properties: Pulse Doppler Radar (Full LDSD Capability), Continuous Wave Illumination

SENSORS / EW:

Front Dome [MR-90 Orekh] – (1981, Fire Dome?) Radar

Role: Radar, FCR, Surface-to-Air, Short-Range

Max Range: 74.1 km

The ship is also fitted with TR47C and Type 347G fire-control radars for the CIWS and 76mm
main gun. The frigate is also equipped with MGK-335 medium frequency active/passive sonar
system integrating Bull Horn active and Whale Tongue passive hull-mounted, search and attack
sonar.

TR47C/Type 347G fire-control radar

The Type 347G “Rice Bowl” I-band fire-control radar is found on Chinese Navy ships, in conjection
with the Type 76A dual-37mm automatic AAA gun. Typically, the system includes 2 Type 347G fire-
control radar with optical director, and 4 Type 76A guns. They’re used on the Luda, Luhu, Luhai,
Jiangwei class surface warships, as well as the Houjian, Houxin, and Haiging class patrol boats.

Type 347 radar is frequently but erroneously referred by many as either Type 349 or Type 348,
because externally, all three radars look very similar, and all three are developed as fire control
radar for small caliber guns. In reality, the three radars are different and they can be easily
distinguished by the following features: When electro-optics (EO) are integrated with radar, EO is
installed on the portside of Type 347 radar antenna, but for Type 348 and Type 349, EO is installed
on the starboard side of the radar antenna. Furthermore, when incorporated as part of CIWS, Type
349 is slaved to Type 730 CIWS gun and thus does not rotate, because the gun rotates when
searching/tracking. In contrast, Type 348 is not slaved to the Type 76 37mm twin guns, but instead,
installed separately from the gun mounts, and thus Type 348 rotates when searching/tracking. The
shape of antenna is also an important visual cue to distinguish three radars. The tip of Type 349
radar is a conical, which is missing on Type 347. Instead, the tip of Type 347 radar antenna is a
small circular flat surface, missing the tip of the cone. The antenna of Type 348 radar differs from
both Type 347 and Type 349 radars in that most of the cone is missing, only the base remains, so
the antenna of Type 348 radar has a very large circular flat surface, resulting in Type 348 radar
resembles a scaled down version of another larger fire control radar for larger caliber guns (76 mm
or greater), Type 344.

Specifications

 X-band

(Specs based on RTN-20X)

 Beam: 2.2 deg

 Gain: 37 dBi
 Range:
 Target acquisition for 2m2: 12 km (verified for LR66)
 Target acquisition for 0.1m2: 6 km (verified for LR66)
 Other features:
 Uses a coherent pulse doppler design
 Non coherent Moving Target Indicator/Detection (MTI, MTD), CFAR (Constant False Alarm
Rate)
 Antinodding, anti clutter capability (A well advertised feature of the RTN family)
 Other reported names:
 TR47C

Source wikiwand.com

Bull Nose (MGK-335M Platina) Hull Sonar

GENERAL DATA:

Type: Hull Sonar, Active/Passive Altitude Max: 0 m

Range Max: 27.8 km Altitude Min: 0 m

Range Min: 0 km Generation: Early 1980s

SENSORS / EW:

Bull Nose [MGK-335M Platina] – (1981, Assoc w Mare Tail & Steer Hide) Hull Sonar, Active/Passive

Role: Hull Sonar, Active/Passive Search

Max Range: 27.8 km

Source cmano-db.com

Countermeasures
 Yuncheng (571) – Image: navalanalyses.blogspot.com

The countermeasures are provided by two 18-tube multiple rocket launchers capable of firing
decoys/chaffs. Other electronic warfare systems include Type 922-1 radar warning receiver and HZ-
100 Electronic Counter Measures (ECM) and Electronic Support Measures (ESM) system.

Type 922-1 radar warning receiver

People’s Liberation Army (Navy) ships consisted of a Type 903 Replenishment Ship, the Taihu, and two Type
054A Guided Missile Frigates the Yancheng and the Daqing on visit to VICTORIA, Canada –
Image: jgmjgm516.blogspot.com

2 × Type 726-4 18-tube decoy rocket launchers

 Yuncheng (571) Type 726-4 18-tube decoy rocket launcher (From pic it is 24 tube) –
Image: navalanalyses.blogspot.com

Propulsion
The combined diesel and diesel (CODAD) propulsion system integrates four SEMT Pielstick (now
MAN Diesel) 16 PA6V-280 STC diesel engines produced locally under license at Shaanxi Diesel
Factory. Each engine, with a sustained power of 4,720kW (6,330hp), provides a total power output
of 18,880kW (25,320hp). The propulsion system provides a maximum speed of 27kt and range of
more than 8,000nmi.
Main material source naval-technology.com

Costs of Building a Type 054A

We estimate that the Type 054A currently costs a total of approximately US$348 million per vessel
to build and fit out. This estimate derives from breaking the ship down by its main systems
categories (hull and equipment, propulsion/power transmission, weapons, and electronics) and
calculating their respective costs, as well as the cost of the labor needed to assemble the ship into a
finished product. We rely heavily on valuation by analogy in many cases because Chinese sources
simply do not disclose cost information on the vast majority of the inputs being used in warships
being built in China. As such, the figure as stands is conservative and may overestimate the
construction and equipment costs.

Type 054A Cost Breakdown

Million USD, Percentage of total estimated ship cost (numbers rounded)
 Source: Alibaba,
U.S. Navy, Local and Foreign Media Sources, Authors’ Analysis

The next section elaborates sequentially on the Type 054A’s cost structure, with the areas that
contribute the most to final ship cost addressed first.

Electronics: US$102 million, 29%. Chinese military-grade electronics makers disclose little or no
information on the unit costs of systems then produce for the PLA. Furthermore, the PLA does not
publish detailed budgets such as those commonplace in the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD). As
such, this analysis uses a valuation by analogy approach to estimate the likely cost of the ship’s
main electronics systems. The ship’s ZKJ-4B/6 combat data system is said to be based on
Thompson CSF’s Tavitac. The Naval Institute Guide to World Naval Weapons Systems, 1997-1998
estimated that the Tavitac accounted for less than 5% of the final cost of the French Lafayette-class
frigate, which based on the US$466 million original unit cost of the six Lafayette-class frigates
(“Kang Ding”) purchased by Taiwan in 1992, suggests Tavitac costs approximately US$20 million.
Given the systems’ stated similarity, it is reasonable to value the ZKJ-4B/6 at US$20 million per unit.

The Type 382 3D search radar likely costs approximately US$15 million per unit based on the price
of the AMD radar system Saab sold to Australia for its Canberra-class LHD and the fact that Chinese
radar makers likely have not yet attained the experience and efficiency level of Saab’s production
process. The Type 054A’s sonar suite likely costs around US$20 million, based on the unit cost of
the Royal Navy’s Sonar 2087 and the procurement requirements the U.S. Navy used in 2005 when
specifying the characteristics of a new towed sonar array. Finally, the authors estimate that the Type
054A’s machinery control system costs US$15 million, based on the fact that Northrup
Grumman has contracted to supply the much larger LHA-7 amphibious assault ship’s machinery
control system at a cost of US$50.6 million. We acknowledge that shipboard electronics costs may
in fact be lower, although no data presently known to us supports a lower cost.
 Yuncheng (57
1) – Image: navalanalyses.blogspot.com

Weapons: US$84 million, 24%. The most expensive part of the Type 054A’s weapons suite is likely
the vertical launching system cells. An 8-cell module from the US Mk 41 VLS system—the most
widely used in the world—costs around US$15 million. The Type 054A has 32 total VLS cells and
the author discounts the 8-cell module cost to US$10 million, making the system cost an estimated
US$40 million. The second most expensive component of the Type 054A’s armament are its two
Type 730 close in weapon systems (“CIWS”), which likely cost around US$11 million for both. The
U.S. Navy’s Phalanx Block 1B CIWS costs US$5.6 million per unit, and we believe this is a
reasonable proxy for the Type 730 CIWS cost because although the Chinese gun is a larger caliber
and the system is physically larger, the assembly and materials costs are likely substantially lower.

Yuncheng (571) – Image: navalanalyses.blogspot.com

Labor: US$75 million, 22%. While data are somewhat scarce, building and commissioning a
frigate-sized warship of between 3,000 and 4,000 tons displacement appears to require between 2.5
million man hours (US FFG-7) and 10.8 million man hours (India’s Godavari-class) of labor. We
estimate that at present, Chinese military shipyards, which can afford a higher degree of labor
intensity than Western yards due to a large labor force, but which are also almost certainly
substantially more efficient than Indian yards, require around 3.2 million man hours to build and
commission a Type 054A frigate. Chinese yards’ average labor cost is based on the 2013 labor
expenditures of Jiangsu Rongsheng, a top private shipbuilder, which are then increased by 25% to
reflect the premium paid for special skill sets required for shipbuilding work done to naval
specifications.

Hull and equipment: US$45 million, 13%. This cost estimate is based on the fact that around one-
third of the light ship weight of surface combatants such as the Type 054A typically consists of
metals—primarily steel, along with lesser quantities of high-grade alloys and wiring and pipes. The
author then multiplied the 1,200 tonnes of steel likely required for a ship the size of the Type 054A
by an average cost of US$2,000/tonne for high quality steel such as that used in warships. The
remainder of the cost comes from composite materials and radar absorbent materials, whose cost
data were obtained from similar items sold on Alibaba.com and from the cost of applying radar
absorbent coatings to frigate-sized U.S. warships, as disclosed by the Chicago Tribune (admittedly a
bit dated as it is 1993-vintage). Cost data for paint, piping, pumps, valves, and wiring also come from
similar Chinese-made items advertised for sale on Alibaba.com as well as the London Metals
Exchange spot price for copper, the underlying component of wiring and likely at least part of the
pipe alloys.

Propulsion: US$32 million, 9%. The biggest share of the Type 054A’s propulsion costs come from
its four Pielstick/Shaanxi PA6 diesel engines. At least one trading company offers Pielstick engines
for sale at between US$1and US$10 million apiece. This estimate uses the mid-range price of $5
million per engine to reflect the size of the engine and the premium quality needed for a military
application. The balance of the estimated cost reflects the gearbox, drive shafts, steering gear, and
props.

Updated Jan 12, 2018

https://thaimilitaryandasianregion.wordpress.com/2016/11/22/type-054a-jiangkai-ii-class-frigate/
Miscellaneous costs: US$10 million, 3%. This category is a “catchall” that helps the overall
estimate account for bits and pieces that might have been overlooked in the process of estimating
each ship segment’s cost. Source chinasignpost.com

CLASS OVERVIEW
 Hudong-Zhonghua Shipyard
Builders:  Huangpu Shipyard

 People’s Liberation Army Navy Surface

Operators: Force

Preceded by: Type 054 frigate

 Type 054A
Subclasses:  Type 054A+

Cost: ¥ 1.58 billion

Building: 5 as of May 2015

Active: 22

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS

Type: Frigate

Displacement: 4,053 tonnes (full)(CCTV report)

Length: 134.1 m (440 ft)(CCTV report)

Beam: 16 m (52 ft) (CCTV report)

CODAD, 4 x Shaanxi 16 PA6 STC diesels,

Propulsion: 5700 kW (7600+ hp @ 1084 rpm) each

Speed: 27 kn estimated

Range: 8025 nautical miles estimated

Complement: 165
  Type 382 Radar (Upgraded
from Type 381 Radar “Sea Eagle
S/C”) 3D air/surface search radar
 Type 344 Radar (Mineral-ME Band
Stand) OTH target acquisition and
SSM fire control radar
 4 × Type 345 Radar(MR-90 Front
Dome) SAM fire control radars
 MR-36A surface search radar, I-
band
 Type 347G 76 mm gun fire control
radar
 2 × Racal RM-1290 navigation
radars, I-band
 MGK-335 medium frequency
active/passive sonar system
 ZKJ-4B/6 (developed
from Thomson-CSF TAVITAC)
combat data system
 HN-900 Data link (Chinese
equivalent of Link 11A/B, to be
upgraded)
Sensors and  SNTI-240 SATCOM
processing systems:  AKD5000S Ku band SATCOM

 Type 922-1 radar warning receiver

Electronic warfare  HZ-100 ECM & ELINT system
& decoys:  Kashtan-3 missile jamming system

 1 × 32-cell VLS

 HQ-16 SAM
 Yu-8 anti submarine rocket launcher
 2 × 4 C-803 anti-ship / land attack
cruise missiles
 1 × PJ26 76 mm dual purpose gun
 2 × Type 730 7-barrel 30 mm CIWS
guns or Type 1130
 2 × 3 324mm YU-
7 ASWtorpedo launchers
 2 × 6 Type 87 240mm anti-
submarine rocket launcher (36
rockets carried)
 2 × Type 726-4 18-tube decoy
Armament: rocket launchers

Aircraft carried: 1 Kamov Ka-28 ‘Helix’ or Harbin Z-9C

Aviation facilities: Hangar

Export
Thailand
In Feb 2013, China offered to sell Thailand 3 customized
054A frigates (“054T”) for 30 billion Thai baht ($1 billion
USD) total. However, in April 2013 it was reported that
South Korea had won the Royal Thai navy’s frigate bid
with 1 modified Gwanggaeto the Great-class destroyers at
13 billion Thai baht each.

Russia
In Early 2015, it was reported that Russia might consider
buying 054A for its navy.

Malaysia
According to a news report at LIMA 2015, the Royal
Malaysian Navy will buy the C28A corvette export variant
of the Chinese multi-role warship.