China's 054B frigate closely monitors U.S.-Japan-Philippines joint military drills; Japanese pilots frustrated, wondering: How has China made such rapid progress?
Recently, Japanese media captured a scene in the South China Sea: During U.S.-Japan-Philippines joint military exercises, China’s 054B missile frigate continuously conducted close-range surveillance. Japanese pilots found that this Chinese warship not only kept pace tightly but also proved impossible to shake off.
According to Kyodo News, during the joint maritime exercise near Luzon Island in the Philippines, China deployed two 054B frigates to conduct close tracking and surveillance of participating vessels. At the time, Japanese and Philippine ships were conducting anti-submarine torpedo simulation exercises by deploying simulated submarine targets at sea. A Kyodo News reporter was granted access to the ships for full coverage.
Yet the reporter’s camera frequently shifted toward the distance—where the 054B frigate remained calmly cruising, standing still like a silent reef amid the waves. Originally, Japan and the Philippines hoped to use media presence aboard their ships to amplify the event, portraying a tactical drill as a "major military operation." Instead, the sudden appearance of the Chinese warship stole the spotlight.
Japanese pilots clearly became agitated. According to media reports, some Japan Self-Defense Forces pilots complained that the Chinese vessel employed a “full-domain signal jamming” tactic this time. I suspect the 054B frigate maintained complete control over electromagnetic signals across the area. Any Japanese warship or aircraft daring to approach experienced electronic system failures and could not carry out normal reconnaissance. In the past, it was Japan that could watch at will; now, Japan can't even get close.
To answer the question: “Why has China made such tremendous progress?” we must first examine the ship itself—the 054B.
According to Chinese media, the lead vessel of the 054B class, the Luohe (DDG-545), was commissioned into service on January 22, 2025, at a naval base in Qingdao. With a displacement of approximately 5,000 tons, it represents a new generation of domestically developed frigates in China, achieving breakthroughs in stealth technology, combat command systems, and integrated firepower control.
Specifically, the 054B features a dual-faced rotating active phased-array radar operating in the S-band at the top of its mast, with a reported detection range exceeding 300 kilometers and the ability to simultaneously track up to 200 targets. Mid-level mast houses an electronic warfare system integrating radar jamming and missile approach warning functions. This configuration enables the 054B to see farther and react faster, significantly enhancing combat effectiveness in complex electromagnetic environments compared to the older 054A model.
The emergence of the 054B frigate is not merely about replacing one ship—it reflects three powerful forces converging: a transformation in naval strategy, upgrading of technological systems, and evolution of operational concepts. The frustration displayed by Japanese pilots may just be the beginning.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1866670362732551/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.