Preface
Recently, images of Type 054B during sea trials have been circulating online. Clearly visible features include the 100mm main gun, rotating dual-sided shield, and HHQ-10 close-in weapon system, suggesting a swift speed estimated at around 20 knots.
Lead Escort Ship
The rapid transition of Type 054B from launching to sea trials highlights two significant points. Firstly, apart from radar and electronic equipment, the vessel largely employs matured technologies. This approach aims to swiftly enhance its combat capability, ensuring not only performance stability but also reducing development and manufacturing costs significantly. The expedited sea trials and deployment underscore the intent to swiftly operationalize Type 054B.
Since the commissioning of Type 054A frigate, it has predominantly served as the backbone of destroyer flotillas. With its outstanding performance, over 40 vessels were constructed in a short span, cementing its status as a crucial component of the Chinese Navy. However, with the mass deployment of more advanced destroyers like Type 055 and 052D, the role of the 054A frigate is evolving.
The addition of Type 054B undoubtedly injects new vigor and possibilities into the frigate flotillas. Compared to its predecessor, Type 054B boasts larger dimensions, extended radar detection range, and enhanced target search and tracking capabilities. These advantages enable Type 054B to better support the latest version of the HHQ-16 anti-aircraft missile with a range of 160 kilometers, positioning it as the “lead ship” within frigate flotillas. The emergence of the 054B not only bolsters the overall air defense capability of frigate flotillas but also enhances anti-submarine capabilities, providing the Navy with more tactical options. Rumors suggest that the initial batch of 054Bs may number no fewer than 8 ships, possibly even up to 12, a speculation that now seems plausible.
Following the service of Type 054A frigate, which has seen more deployment as the mainstay of destroyer flotillas with over 40 vessels constructed, it is expected that Type 054A frigates will return to frigate flotillas after the mass deployment of Type 055 and 052D. With the inclusion of theType 054B in frigate flotillas, characterized by its larger size, extended radar detection range, and enhanced target search and tracking capabilities, it can support the HHQ-16 missile with a range of 160 kilometers, serving as the “lead ship” within the frigate flotillas, greatly enhancing the overall air defense capability of frigate flotillas.
Therefore, after the official unveiling of the 054B, many have expressed concerns about the limited number of 32 vertical launch cells, suggesting at least equipping them with 48 units of the 850, but the Navy’s objective is to enhance the overall combat capability of the entire frigate flotilla and streamline logistics.
Type 054 Frigate and Hongqi-16 Series Air Defense Missiles
Hongqi-16 Air Defense Missile
As the first domestically produced medium-range area air defense missile equipped by the Chinese navy, the Hongqi-16 air defense missile, since its inception in 1999, has undergone nearly a decade of arduous research and development. Finally, by the end of 2007, it completed its first live-fire shipborne test. The following year, the missile system successfully passed its type testing and was officially equipped on Type 054A frigate. The primary mission of the Hongqi-16 missile is medium-range area air defense and self-defense anti-missile operations, effectively intercepting anti-ship missiles and aircraft targets, greatly enhancing the air defense capabilities of the Chinese navy ships. The Hongqi-16 missile is 5.2 meters long, with a diameter of 0.35 meters, a launch weight of 645 kilograms, a warhead weight of 70 kilograms, and a maximum range of 40 kilometers.
The Hongqi-16 missile adopts a modular design, which means it can flexibly adjust firepower configuration according to the actual situation of the ship, demonstrating its powerful loading adaptability. In addition, the application of vertical hot launch technology enables the missile to possess the capability of rapid interception of multiple targets from all directions, effectively intercepting both supersonic and subsonic anti-ship missiles.
However, with the rapid advancement of military technology, the original 40-kilometer range and semi-active radar homing guidance method of the Hongqi-16 missile have gradually become inadequate. Especially when facing weapons outside the defended area with increasing range and speed, its short range and relatively backward guidance methods have become obvious shortcomings.
Hongqi-16B Air Defense Missile
To address these shortcomings, the Hongqi-16B improved air defense missile system was developed. In the mid-2010s, the Hongqi-16B was successfully developed and deployed, with improvements mainly in the following aspects:
Upgrade of the propulsion system: The Hongqi-16B adopts the so-called “single-chamber dual-thrust engine” design, which configures two different types of propellants in one combustion chamber, thereby achieving flexible thrust adjustment and effectively increasing the missile’s range. It is estimated that the range of the Hongqi-16B may be increased from the original 40 kilometers to over 70 kilometers.
Improvement of the missile body: The body of the Hongqi-16B missile is about 1 meter longer than the prototype, which not only changes the relative position of the fins but also increases the propellant charge, providing a material basis for extended range.
Optimization of flight trajectory: The Hongqi-16B adopts a more reasonable high-altitude flight trajectory, allowing the missile to quickly climb to high altitude for flight after launch. This flight mode not only reduces aerodynamic drag but also reduces fuel consumption, further enhancing the range.
Optimization of guidance system: The Hongqi-16B still uses semi-active radar homing guidance, but there has been a significant improvement in target tracking and guidance capability. The radar system, after transformation and upgrading, can simultaneously track more than twelve targets, up from the original four. In addition, the Hongqi-16B also adopts a new type of two-dimensional phased array radar, which does not require rotation, resulting in higher efficiency when illuminating targets and enabling continuous locking and guidance of multiple targets.
Hongqi-16FE Air Defense Missile
As a deeply improved product, the Hongqi-16FE air defense missile system has undergone significant changes in appearance. The biggest highlight of the Hongqi-16FE is its significantly increased range. Compared to previous models, the Hongqi-16FE has a maximum range of 160 kilometers in the far field, 3.5 kilometers in the near field, 27 kilometers in the high field, and 15 meters in the low field. The missile can withstand a maximum overload of 35g. It adopts inertial autonomous initial guidance + command correction mid-course guidance + intermittent illumination semi-active/active dual-mode terminal guidance. (The “E” stands for export version, with improved performance for domestic use as well.)
This significant increase in range is due to the application of new high-energy solid propellant technology and dual-thrust rocket engine technology. These advanced technologies not only greatly improve the thrust efficiency of the missile but also fully exploit the huge range potential of the Hongqi-16, which was already close to a long-range air defense missile. This technological breakthrough not only increases the overall propulsion efficiency of the missile and reduces the weight of the body but also extends the range.
The Distributed Air Defense System of Frigate Flotillas
The airborne radars and illuminating radars of Type 054A frigate are unable to effectively support the 160-kilometer range of the HHQ-16FE anti-aircraft missile. However, the early radar of Type 054B incorporates small multi-face arrays and a dual-sided rotating shield. The former boasts high refresh rates but short radar range, while the latter, with its larger caliber and longer search and tracking range, utilizes gallium nitride and digital array technology, endowing the radar with the capability to detect stealth targets at long distances.
Though the radar system of Type 054A frigate is relatively conventional, the HHQ-16A/B series of anti-aircraft missiles still possess formidable combat capabilities. Particularly in intercepting maneuvering sea-skimming anti-ship missiles, the semi-active radar-guided approach used by Type 054A exhibits high precision. Therefore, under the leadership of Type 054B frigate, a formation comprising 1 054B and 3 054A vessels, totaling 128 launch units, leaving 96 units for anti-aircraft missiles, can establish a multi-layered air defense network covering long, medium, and short ranges, effectively countering high-intensity saturation attacks. Such a formation configuration not only enhances the overall air defense capability of the fleet but also maximizes the combat effectiveness of various types of vessels.
This, perhaps, embodies the greatest significance of the appearance of Type 054B! (Zhang Gong)