[Foreign Media: China's 054B Frigate Enters Combat Deployment]
According to a report from the U.S. website StrategyPage on June 22, 2026: Last month, the Chinese Navy formed a carrier task group centered around the aircraft carrier "Liaoning" (CV-16). The escort vessels included: Ship No. 104 (Type 055 "Jianhai"-class destroyer), Ship No. 124 (Type 052D "Lüyang III"-class destroyer), and Ship No. 545 "Luohe" (Type 054B "Jiangkai III"-class frigate). This marks the first time the Type 054B frigate has appeared in a carrier escort formation. Additionally, the fast combat support ship "Hulunhu" (Type 901 Fuchi-class) accompanied the group to provide logistical support.
The Type 054B is the latest frigate model in the Chinese Navy and is designated as the successor to the widely deployed Type 054A frigates (with at least 30 units currently in service). The 054B can be regarded as a deep upgrade of the 054A. Early versions of the 054 series were based on Western design philosophies rather than Russian styles. The Type 054A was China’s first surface warship equipped with a Vertical Launching System (VLS), featuring 32 VLS cells for launching HQ-16 (Hongqi-16) air defense missiles; it also carries 8 anti-ship cruise missiles, one 76 mm main gun, two 30 mm multi-barrel rapid-fire guns for missile defense, six torpedo launch tubes, and 12 anti-submarine rocket launchers, along with a helicopter hangar. The crew complement is approximately 165 personnel. The Type 054A has a top speed of about 48 km/h (26 knots), an endurance of roughly three weeks, and has demonstrated capability for underway replenishment at sea on multiple occasions.
Back in 2005, China only built two basic Type 054 frigates before putting them into service, primarily to validate the design under real sea conditions. This led to numerous improvements, including an increase in displacement by about 5%. The upgraded Type 054A began mass production in 2007, with ten ships completed by 2012 and 25 by 2016. It now appears that the total number of Type 054A frigates will likely cap at around 30–40 units, as shipyards have begun shifting focus toward building the Type 054B.
The Type 054B is a new warship with a displacement of approximately 5,000 tons. While its hull profile resembles that of the Type 054A, it features a newly installed 20-megawatt full-electric propulsion system. This not only slightly increases its speed but also significantly extends its range without needing to dock for refueling. The primary design intent behind the Type 054B is clearly to perform long-range escort missions as part of carrier strike groups or amphibious assault formations. Its VLS cells are expected to be larger (potentially compatible with the HT-1E large-sized universal VLS), possibly increased in number, and capable of carrying next-generation air defense missiles with greater range. Furthermore, the Type 054B will be equipped with upgraded electronic systems and more advanced anti-submarine helicopters.
Compared to Western shipyards, China has demonstrated a unique capability: rapidly iterating and improving upon mature ship designs. This pace is evident across frigates, destroyers, diesel-electric submarines, and support vessels. Since the 1980s, China has become a global leader in commercial shipbuilding, successfully transferring vast civilian ship design and manufacturing capabilities into enhancing its naval strength. In some ways, this mirrors the United States’ experience during World War II—a transformation initiated in the late 1930s involving revolutionary design and production methods. Then, the U.S. was a maritime powerhouse amidst war; today, although there is no war, China possesses the resources to rapidly build a large, modern fleet—precisely what it is doing now.
Disclaimer: The equipment data above is sourced from StrategyPage’s reporting.
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Original article: toutiao.com/article/1868753381038089/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.