Previously, it was reported that Type 054B frigate’s whole-electric integrated transmission system was difficult to achieve the ideal speed because of power limitation. It may not be a “fleet frigate”. At that time, everyone was still thinking about whether a “052E” similar to the British Type 26 frigate would be developed, which would be a 6,000-ton fleet frigate or common destroyer, with big tubes to launch YJ-XX missiles.
But according to Chinese military expert Xi Yazhou, Type 054B frigate might be redesigned – the specific situation is not clear, but considering the situation of the fleet in the next decade or so, the “new 054B” may return to the simple side, no longer use of whole-electric integrated transmission with high technical difficulty – after all, even the United States Zumwalt-class destroyer and the British Type 45, which were regarded as benchmarks of “whole-electric integrated transmission”, are facing frequent technological maturity and reliability problems, thus they are using a much more mature mechanical transmission, while the primary engine is changed from four diesel engines to a single high-power gas turbine plus two diesel engine.
Xi Yazhou also assumed a new Type 054B frigate: speed of 30 knots, combined gas and diesel oil, tonnage increased to about 5,000 tons, integrated mast, small-sized four-plane radar, 32 units of general-purpose vertical launch tubes, one tube for four kinds of missiles: small-diameter medium- and short-range anti-aircraft missiles (or might HHQ-16B), and Yu-8 anti-submarine missiles can also be installed. And the vertical launch system can also accommodate YJ-18, YJ -18 land attack cruise missiles, and even YJ-XX anti-ship ballistic missiles.
Type 054B frigate configured in this way has far more practical performance than the British Type 26 frigate. The active Type 054B can be used as the main part of the “base force”, playing the role of the British Type 31, Japan’s 30FFM or the United States FFG (X).
Of course, this is only the Xi Yazhou’s good wishes – if Type 054B frigate is still focused on anti-submarine and would rather endure the lower speed and continue to use the whole-electric integrated transmission, this couldn’t be said to be surprising.
After all, the advanced technologies also need a platform for military verification, but in this case, the number of Type 054B frigates might not be high – and that would indicate a new round of “small-step running” in PLA Navy’s developing frigates.
It was speculated that Type 054B frigate will look like a mini version of Type 055 destroyer in appearance and will become part of the latter’s fleet.
