According to Chinese sources, on May 20, 2022, the Guangzhou Zhongchuan Huangpu Shipbuilding Limited Company (Guachnzhou, China) began construction of the first patrol ship (according to other frigate classifications) of Project 054B for the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLA).
According to the plan, the duration of construction will be 19 months, i.e. launching should take place no later than July 23, 2023. It is known that during the construction of this ship, Chinese specialists will use ship grade steel H1201 CCS-B (used in VLCC class oil tankers), the production of which is established at the Anshan Metallurgical Plant – AnSteel (Anshan, prov. Liaoning). Steel supplies for the construction of the ship are issued to another company – Guangzhou Wenchong Ship Factory Co. Ltd. (Guangzhou).
Probable appearance of the TFR project 054B in comparison with 054AAccording to available information, within the framework of the first contract for the PLA Navy, it is planned to build 20 TFRs of project 054B, which will allow the decommissioning of 12 ships of project 053 and two patrol ships of project 054.
It seems necessary to note that the development of the TFR project 054B Chinese shipbuilders began in 2012 after receiving the first conclusions from the PLA Navy Command about the problems encountered in long-distance trips of ship security groups.
Probable appearance of the TFR project 054BIn addition to the failures of the electromechanical part, the requirements for the new patrol ship indicated the need to improve living conditions for all crew members, increase the volume of ship premises intended for food storage.
In addition, PLA Navy specialists have formulated new requirements for the cabin and gym.
The main difference of the 054B project is that the power circuit is represented by two diesel engines of the 16RA6STS model (power of each 5 MW) and one gas turbine engine QC-280 (power of 23 MW). They will provide power generation for traction electric motors (they will be installed on dampers), which will allow a maximum speed of 33 to 35 knots.
The appearance of the electric motor for the TFR project 054VThanks to the "electric propulsion" scheme, Chinese shipbuilders will be able to exclude gearboxes from the power circuit and thereby minimize the acoustic visibility of the ship.
In addition, due to fuel economy, the cruising range will significantly increase.
Chinese shipbuilders are confident that thanks to electric propulsion, the ship will be able to consistently maintain high speed even in southern latitudes, unlike the Type 45 destroyers of the British Navy, whose power plants are prone to overheating.
The following is known about the composition of the armament of the Project 054B patrol ship. In the bow, in a new tower with reduced radar visibility, an artillery installation (AU) of 76 mm caliber will be located. At the same time, there is a possibility of installing a 100 mm caliber gun, following the example of the Russian AK-190-100. It is planned to place vertical launchers (VPU) for 32 cells for the Sea Red Banner 16 medium-range air defense system (HHQ–16, the maximum range of interception of an air target is 70 km) behind the AU - they provide the main line of the ship's air defense.
Behind the main mast of the ship, it is planned to place 8 inclined PU with universal containers for anti-ship missiles (RCC) "Yingzi-83" (subsonic) or "Yingzi-18" (supersonic). It should be noted that instead of inclined PU, it is possible to place the VPU on 12 or 24 cells in the central part of the ship, in which from 4 to 8 anti-submarine UR of the type "Fish-8 or 11", from 8 to 12 subsonic and up to 8 supersonic PKRS will be installed. This solution will further reduce the radar visibility of the ship.
On the roof of the hangar for aviation equipment, it is planned to install a rotary PU short-range air defense system "Sea Red Banner-10" (HHQ–10) - provides a near-range air defense of the ship.
The fight against submarines (submarines) of the probable enemy is assigned to two three-tube torpedo tubes of 324 mm caliber and a Type 3200 rocket-propelled bomb launcher.
The detection of air and surface targets should be provided by the radar with the AFAR of the Sea Eagle series (the same type as the one installed on the UDC of the Type 075 project), which was tested on the experimental vessel Bi Sheng of the PLA Navy.
The appearance of the radar with AFAR type "Sea Eagle"This radar operates in two ranges: S (detection and classification of targets) and X (tracking of targets and illumination until the moment of defeat).
The equipment of communication and electronic warfare systems is planned to be placed in a closed-type mast.
Sketch of a closed-type mast with an AFAR radar on the upper levelFire control will be provided by 4 AKJ-16 radars.
To detect targets at a range of more than 100 km, the Type 366 radar is designed, which is planned to be placed on the roof of a helicopter hangar.
Detection of underwater targets is assigned to the medium-frequency active towed hydroacoustic station (GAS) SJD-9 (provides torpedo guidance) and the low-frequency active-passive towed gas of variable depth "Type 311". Together, the GAS will be able to detect underwater targets at a distance of up to 80 km and simultaneously allow tracking up to 5 targets.
Placement of gas in the compartment at the stern of the TFR 054AIn addition, detection and anti-submarine warfare will be assigned to the Zhi-20 anti-submarine defense helicopter, which will create a stereophonic scheme for combating enemy submarines.
Probable GAS application schemeThe main opponents of the patrol ships of the 054B project are the submarines of the "Sea Wolf" and "Virginia" projects of the US Navy, which monitor the AUG of the PLA Navy operating in the waters of the South China Sea.
Based on the materials of Chinese military-technical publications
